"--"the _last two_
centuries;" "the _first three_ words;" "the _first three_ of these
orthoepists."

2. Adjectives should not be used to express the manner of action. "The
higher the river, the _swifter_ it flows;" "James learns _easier_ than
Juliet; he sees _deeper_ into the millstone than she:"--"the _more
swiftly_ it flows;" "learns _more easily_; _farther_ into the
millstone." "He conducted the _boldest_ of any:"--"the _most boldly_."

3. _More_ requires _than_ after it. The following sentences are
therefore improper: "He was more beloved, but not so much admired, _as_
Cinthio;" "Richard is more active, but not so studious, _as_ his
companion." The legitimate mode of supplying the ellipses in these
constructions, will show their gross impropriety: thus, "He was more
beloved _as_ Cinthio;" "Richard is more active _as_ his companion," &c.

4. Adverbs, as illustrated on page 85, are generally _substitutes_ for
two or more words belonging to other parts of speech. "Will you
accompany me to Europe next summer?" _"Yes."_ "Do you believe that the
voyage will restore your health?" _"No."_ In these examples, the adverbs
_yes_ and _no_, are substitutes for whole sentences, and, therefore, do
not qualify any words understood. _Yes_, in this instance, literally
means, _"I will accompany you to Europe next summer;"_ and _no_, _"I do
not believe that the voyage will restore my health."_ Many other adverbs
are often employed in a similar manner.

_"Firstly,"_ is often improperly used instead of the adverb _first;_ "a
_good deal_," instead of, _much_, or, a _great deal_.

5. A nice distinction should be observed in the use of _such_ and _so_.
The former may be employed in expressing _quality_; the latter, in
expressing a _degree_ of the quality; as, "_Such_ a temper is seldom
found;" "_So_ bad a temper is seldom found." In the following examples,
_so_ should be used instead of _such:_ "He is _such_ an extravagant
young man, that I cannot associate with him;" "I never before saw _such_
large trees."

The affected use of cardinal, instead of ordinal numbers, ought not to
be imitated. "On page _forty-five;"_ "Look at page
_nineteen_;"--_forty-fifth, nineteenth_.

6. In the choice and application of prepositions, particular regard
should be paid to their meaning as established by the idiom of our
language and the best usage. "In my proceedings, I have been actuated
from the conviction, that I was supporting a righteous cause;"