+Remarks+.--The superlative degree refers to one thing (or set of things)
as belonging to a group or class, and as having more of the quality than
any of the rest. The superlative is generally followed by _of_.
Good writers sometimes use the superlative in comparing two things; as,
This is the _best of the two_. But in such cases usage largely favors the
comparative; as, This is the _better of the two_.
+Direction+.--_Study the Caution and the Remarks, and correct these
errors:_--
1. Solomon was the wisest of all the other Hebrew kings.
+Correction+.--_Of_ (= _belonging to_) represents Solomon as belonging to a
group of kings, and _other_ excludes him from this group--a contradiction
in terms. It should be, _Solomon_ was the _wisest of Hebrew kings_, or
_Solomon_ was _wiser_ than _any other Hebrew king_.
2. Of all the other books I have examined, this is the most satisfactory.
3. Profane swearing is, of all other vices, the most inexcusable.
4. He was the most active of all his companions.
(He was not one of his own companions.)
5. This was the most satisfactory of any preceding effort.
6. John is the oldest of any boy in his class.
+Caution+.--Avoid double comparatives and double superlatives, and the
comparison of adjectives whose meaning will not admit of different
degrees.
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