NOTE V.—­When the superlative degree is employed, the latter term of comparison, which is introduced by of, should never exclude the former; as, “A fondness for show, is, of all other follies, the most vain.”  Here the word other should be expunged; for this latter term must include the former:  that is, the fondness for show must be one of the follies of which it is the vainest.

NOTE VI.—­When equality is denied, or inequality affirmed, neither term of the comparison should ever include the other; because every thing must needs be equal to itself, and it is absurd to suggest that a part surpasses the whole:  as, “No writings whatever abound so much with the bold and animated figures, as the sacred books.”—­Blair’s Rhet., p. 414.  Say, “No other writings whatever;” because the sacred books are “writings” See Etymology, Chap, iv, Obs. 6th, on Regular Comparison.

NOTE VII.—­Comparative terminations, and adverbs of degree, should not be applied to adjectives that are not susceptible of comparison; and all double comparatives and double superlatives should be avoided:  as, “So universal a complaint:”  say rather, “So general.”—­“Some less nobler plunder:”  say, “less noble”—­“The most straitest sect:”  expunge most.  See Etymology, Chap, iv, from Obs. 5th to Obs. 13th, on Irregular Comparison.[374]

NOTE VIII.—­When adjectives are connected by and, or, or nor, the shortest and simplest should in general be placed first; as, “He is older and more respectable than his brother.”  To say, “more respectable and older” would be obviously inelegant, as possibly involving the inaccuracy of “more older.”

NOTE IX.—­When one adjective is superadded to an other without a conjunction expressed or understood, the most distinguishing quality must be expressed next to the noun, and the latter must be such as the former may consistently qualify; as, “An agreeable young man,” not, “A young agreeable man.”—­“The art of speaking, like all other practical arts, may be facilitated by rules,”—­Enfield’s Speaker, p. 10.  Example of error:  “The Anglo-Saxon language possessed, for the two first persons, a Dual number.”—­Fowler’s E. Gram., 1850, p. 59.  Say, “the first two persons;” for the second of three can hardly be one of the first; and “two first” with the second and third added, will clearly make more than three.  See Obs. 12th, above.

NOTE X.—­In prose, the use of adjectives for adverbs, is a vulgar error; the adverb alone being proper, when manner or degree is to be expressed, and not quality; as, “He writes elegant;” say, “elegantly.”—­“It is a remarkable good likeness;” say, “remarkably good.”