OBS. 32.—­There is a vulgar error of substituting the adverb most for almost, as in the phrases, “most all,”—­“most anywhere,”—­“most every day,”—­which we sometimes hear for “almost all,”—­“almost anywhere,”—­“almost every day.”  The fault is gross, and chiefly colloquial, but it is sometimes met with in books; as, “But thinking he had replied most too rashly, he said, ’I won’t answer your question.’”—­Wagstaff’s History of Friends, Vol. i, p. 207.

NOTES TO RULE XXI.

NOTE I.—­Adverbs must be placed in that position which will render the sentence the most perspicuous and agreeable.  Example of error:  “We are in no hazard of mistaking the sense of the author, though every word which he uses be not precise and exact.”—­Blair’s Rhet., p. 95; Jamieson’s, 66.  Murray says,—­“though every word which he uses is not precise and exact.”—­Octavo Gram., p. 302.  Better:—­“though not every word which he uses, is precise and exact.”

NOTE II.—­Adverbs should not be needlessly used for adjectives; nor should they be employed when quality is to be expressed, and not manner:  as, “That the now copies of the original text are entire.”—­S.  Fisher.  Say, “the present copies,” or, “the existing copies.”  “The arrows of calumny fall harmlessly at the feet of virtue.”—­Murray’s Key, p. 167; Merchant’s Gram., 186; Ingersoll’s, 10; Kirkham’s, 24.  Say, “fall harmless;” as in this example:  “The impending black cloud, which is regarded with so much dread, may pass by harmless.”—­Murray’s Key, 8vo, p. 262.

NOTE III.—­With a verb of motion, most grammarians prefer hither, thither, and whither, to here, there, and where, which are in common use, and perhaps allowable, though not so good; as, “Come hither, Charles,”—­or, “Come here.”

NOTE IV.—­“To the adverbs hence, thence, and whence, the preposition from is frequently (though not with strict propriety) prefixed; as, from hence, from whence.”—­See W.  Allen’s Gram., p. 174.  Some critics, however, think this construction allowable, notwithstanding the former word is implied in the latter.  See Priestley’s Gram., p. 134; and L.  Murray’s, p. 198.  It is seldom elegant to use any word needlessly.

NOTE V.—­The adverb how should not be used before the conjunction that, nor in stead of it; as, “He said how he would go.”—­“Ye see how that not many wise men are called.”  Expunge how.  This is a vulgar error.  Somewhat similar is the use of how for lest or that not; as, “Be cautious how you offend him, i.e., that you do not offend him.”—­W.  Allen’s Gram., p. 175.