important than itself--an absurdity. But it would be right to
say, _The discovery of America was more important THAN ANY OTHER
geographical discovery_. One should not say, _He is the most honest
OF HIS fellow-workmen_, for he is not one of his fellow-workmen.
One should say, _He is more honest THAN ANY of his fellow-workmen_,
or, _He is the most honest OF ALL the workmen_. To say, _This machine
is BETTER THAN ANY machine_, is incorrect, but to say, _This machine
is better THAN ANY OTHER machine_, is correct. To say, _This machine
is the BEST OF ANY machine_ (or _any other machine_), is wrong,
because all machines are meant, not one machine or some machines.
To say, _This machine is the BEST OF machines_ (or _the best of
all machines_), is correct.

Note the following rules in regard to the use of _other_ in comparisons:

a. After comparatives followed by _than_ the words _any_ and _all_
should be followed by _other_.

b. After superlatives followed by _of, any_ and _other_ should not
be used.

4. Avoid mixed comparisons. _John is as good, if not better than
she_. If the clause, _if not better_, were left out, this sentence
would read, _John is as good than she_. It could be corrected to
read, _John is as good AS, if not better than she_. Similarly, it
is wrong to say, _He is one of the greatest, if not the greatest,
man in history_.

EXERCISE 22

_Choose the correct word from those italicized:_

1. The _older oldest_ of the three boys was sick.
2. Of Smith and Jones, Smith is the _wealthiest wealthier_.
3. Of two burdens choose the _less least_.
4. Which can run the _fastest faster_, John or Henry?
5. Of the two men, Smith and Jones, the _first former_ is the
_better best_ known.
6. Which is the _larger largest_ of the two?
7. Which is the _best better_ of the six?
8. Which is the _larger largest_ number, six or seven
9. Which is the _more most_ desirable, health or wealth?
10. My mother is the _oldest older_ of four sisters.
11. The _prettier prettiest_ of the twins is the _brighter brightest_.
12. This is the _duller dullest_ season of the year.
13. The other is the _worse worst_ behaved of the two.
14. Which was the _hotter hottest_, yesterday or to-day?
15. That is the _cleaner cleanest_ of the three streets.

EXERCISE 23

_Correct any of the following sentences that may be wrong. Give
a valid reason for each correction:_

1. He was the most active of all his friends.