Adverbs
The clearness of the sentence is often dependent upon the proper
placing of the adverb. No absolute rule can be laid down, but it should
generally be placed before the word it qualifies. It is sometimes
necessary to place it after the verb, and occasionally between the
auxiliary and the verb, but it should never come between _to_ and the
_infinitive._
“I have thought of marrying _often.”_ As the adverb relates to the
thinking, and not to the marrying, the sentence should read, “I have
_often _thought of marrying.”
“We have _often_ occasion to speak of health.” This should be, “We
_often_ have occasion,” etc,
“It remains then _undecided_ whether we shall go to Newport or
Saratoga.” Place _undecided_ before _then._
Adjective or Adverb?
There is often a doubt in the mind of the speaker whether to use the
adjective or the adverb, and too frequently he reaches a wrong
decision. When the limiting word expresses a quality or state of the
subject or of the object of a verb, the adjective must be employed; but
if the manner of the action is to be expressed, the adverb must be
used. The verbs _be, seem, look, taste, smell,_ and _feel_ furnish many
stumbling-blocks.
“This rose smells _sweetly.”_ As the property or quality of the rose is
here referred to, and not the manner of smelling, the adjective _sweet
_should be employed, and not the adverb _sweetly._
“Thomas feels quite _badly_ about it.” Here, again, it is the condition
of Thomas’s mind, and not the manner of feeling, that is to be
expressed; hence, _badly_ should be _bad_ or _uncomfortable._
“Didn’t she look _beautifully_ upon the occasion of her wedding?” No;
she looked _beautiful._
“The sun shines brightly.” _Bright_ is the better word.
“The child looks _cold,”_ refers to the condition of the child. “The
lady looked _coldly_ upon her suitor,” refers to the manner of looking.
“The boy feels warm” is correct. “The boy feels _warmly_ the rebuke of
his teacher” is equally correct.
While license is granted to the poets to use the adjective for the
adverb, as in the line
“They fall _successive_ and _successive_ rise,”
in prose the one must never be substituted for the other.
_“Agreeably_ to my promise, I now write,” not _“Agreeable_ to my
promise.”
“An _awful_ solemn funeral,” should be “An _awfully_ solemn funeral.”
“He acts _bolder_ than was expected,” should be “He acts _more
boldly.”_
“Helen has been _awful_ sick, but she is now _considerable _better.”
“Helen has been very ill, but she is now _considerably _better.”
Do not use _coarser_ for more coarsely, _finer_ for more finely,
_harsher_ for more harshly, _conformable_ for conformably, _decided
_for decidedly, _distinct_ for distinctly, _fearful_ for fearfully,
_fluent_ for fluently.
Do not say “This melon is _uncommon_ good,” but “This melon is
_uncommonly_ good.”
The word _ill_ is both an adjective and an adverb. Do not say “He can
illy afford to live in such a house,” but “He can _ill_ afford.”
“That was a _dreadful_ solemn sermon.” To say “That was a _dreadfully
_solemn sermon” would more grammatically express what the speaker
intended, but _very_ or _exceedingly_ would better express the meaning.
Such, So
_Such_ is often improperly used for the adverb _so._
“In _such_ a mild and healthful climate.” This should be, “In _so_ mild
and healthful a climate.”
“With all due deference to _such_ a high authority on _such_ a very
important matter.” Change to, “With all due deference to _so_ high an
authority on _so_ very important a matter.”
Good, Well
Many intelligent persons carelessly use the adjective _good_ in the
sense of the adverb _well;_ as, “I feel _good_ to-day.” “Did you sleep
_good_ last night?” “Does this coat look _good_ enough to wear on the
street?” “I can do it as _good_ as he can.” The frequent indulgence in
such errors dulls the sense of taste and weakens the power of
discrimination.
Very much of
“She is _very much of_ a lady.” Say, “She is very ladylike.” “He is
_very much of_ a gentleman.” Say, “He is very gentlemanly.”
Quite
This adverb is often incorrectly used in the sense of _very_ or
_rather._ It should be employed only in the sense of _wholly_ or
_entirely._ These sentences are therefore incorrect:
“He was wounded _quite_ severely.”
“James was _quite_ tired of doing nothing.”
How
This word is sometimes used when another would be more appropriate.
“He said _how_ he would quit farming.” Use _that._
“Ye see _how_ that not many wise men are called.” We must read the
Bible as we find it, but in modern English the sentence would be
corrected by omitting _how._
“Be careful _how_ you offend him.” If the manner of offending is the
thought to be expressed, the sentence is correct. But the true meaning
is doubtless better expressed by, “Be careful _lest_ you offend him.”
No, Not
“I cannot tell whether he will come or _no.”_ “Whether he be a sinner
or _no_ I know not.” In such cases _not_ should be used instead of
_no._
This much
_“This much_ can be said in his favor.” Change _this much_ to _so_
_much_ or_ thus much._
That far
The expressions _this far_ and _that far,_ although they are very
common, are, nevertheless, incorrect. _Thus_ _far_ or _so far _should
be used instead.
Over, More than
“There were not _over_ thirty persons present.” _Over_ is incorrect;
_above_ has some sanction; but _more than,_ is the best, and should be
used.
Real good
This is one of those good-natured expressions that insinuate themselves
into the speech of even cultured people. _Very good_ is just as short,
and much more correct. _Really good_ scarcely conveys the thought
intended.
So nice
“This basket of flowers is _so_ _nice.” So nice_ does not tell _how_
_nice. So_ requires a correlative to complete its meaning. Use _very
nice_ or _very pretty._
Pell-mell
“He rushes _pell-mell_ down the street.” One bird cannot flock by
itself, nor can one man rush _pell-mell._ It will require at least
several men to produce the intermixing and confusion which the word is
intended to convey.