LEND ME YOUR EAR: ON TREATING ADVERBS POSITIVELY -- FOR SURE

With apologies to the geese flying overhead -- and to Mark McEwen -- I dare say a "gaggle" of speakers and writers use adverbs for adjectives.

We, meaning I, have made quite an issue of "more importantly" in earlier columns, but my explications keep falling on deaf ears and blind eyes. Recently, a schoolman wrote that good teachers "are so importantly" to children. Perhaps this well-qualified educator is so accustomed to hearing and reading "importantly" for "important" that the adjective is no longer in his vocabulary.

In a review of "Schindler's List", a capable critic wrote that everyone, even the very young, should see the movie because it is "so truly to the Holocaust." Obviously, this penman has erased the adjective "true" from his memory or computer.

Adverbs, like adjectives, have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative. I know a gracious lady who always speaks "sweetly." "Sweetly" is the positive form of the adverb. She could also speak "more sweetly" (comparative), or "most sweetly" (superlative) were she so minded. A woman less gracious might speak "crossly", "more", or even "most crossly" -- especially to me, for presuming to teach her respect or manners.

My friend Esther Riechmann has sent a clipping from a Florida newspaper in which she underlined "very occasionally" and "relatively seriously." She asks whether these constructions are acceptable.

Not in my book. "Very occasionally" contradicts itself, to say nothing of offending my ear. One word -- "seldom" -- would have served the writer much better.

"Relatively seriously" sounds even worse, and can be vastly improved by substituting "rather" for "relatively," though the sense in both is one of degree.

In general, adverbs ending in "ly" are classified as adverbs of degree or manner. Adverbs used as prepositions to introduce a phrase, or as conjunctions before a conjunctive clause, usually indicate time or place. Among these are "before, after, since, until, while, when, whenever, whence, where," and the like. Few literates need lessons in how to use or where to place adverbs of this genre.

The adjective "good" poses problems when used as an adverb, though "good, better, best" is the adverbial as well as the adjectival declension. However, "goodly" exists only as an adjective, as in "a goodly sum of money" or "a goodly appearance."

"Looking good" is also acceptable in informal address, though in matters of health we are advised to "look well" or "ill" -- not "goodly" or "illy." Never mind that we may be "do-gooders" but must "do well" in school or business. Sad to say, linking verbs sometimes refuse to clink.

Most of us learned to avoid double negatives as early as primary school. Still, evidence suggests a need to renew the rule against using "not" with negative adjectives, "not" being a negative adverb. Negatives at risk include "nobody, nothing, none, neither, never, hardly, scarcely," and others of similar cast. I just heard a young skater in our driveway yell at his partner, "You ain't neither no better than me!" Skaters are not allowed in our driveway, and I explained this to the youngsters as politely as possible. I spared them a lesson in grammar, but adults who use "not neither" or "not hardly" should listen up.

Also unacceptable are the nonexistent adverbs "anywheres, somewheres, nowheres, firstly, secondly (etc.)," and "muchly." "Mostly" is approved, but not "muchly." Don't blame me, blame English idiom. Accordingly, we close with some additional DO NOT'S common to the cause of adverbs:

DO NOT use the adjective "most" for the adverb "almost." Say "The police reported that almost all the money was taken."

DO NOT use "some" as an adverb. Use "somewhat", as in "She was somewhat better when I called yesterday."

DO NOT use the adjective "real" for the adverb "really." Say "The candy you made tasted really good." If your ear is so inclined, as mine is, let "really" modify the verb "tasted": "The candy you made really tasted good." Just make sure to enjoy it either way -- and now:

DO NOT use "sure" for "surely" even though you may feel sure I've said quite enough about adverbs. I agree with you, and this is positively for sure!