I
adjective
DUBIOUS : Taking all the above into account, one could say that tourism does more harm than good.
GOOD : Taking all the above arguments into account, one could say that tourism does more harm than good.
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Instead of using the above as a loose reference to something mentioned earlier, make the reference more precise by using the above + noun (or the + noun + above ): 'the above reasons', 'the statement above '.
II
preposition
1
BAD : He likes reading, above all novels.
GOOD : He likes reading, especially novels.
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Above all means 'most importantly': 'Get plenty of sleep, eat lots of good food, and above all try to relax.' 'There were many qualities that made him a great leader. Above all, he had charisma.'
2
BAD : There were above a hundred people in the crowd.
GOOD : There were over a hundred people in the crowd.
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Do not use above with numbers (unless referring to points on a scale): 'He is over eighty years of age.' 'I receive over twenty letters a day.' Compare 'Don't let the temperature get above thirty degrees.'
3
BAD : This year English is above all my most important subject.
GOOD : This year English is by far my most important subject.
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With a superlative form ('the most important'), use by far : 'The riot was by far the most horrific scene I'd ever witnessed.'
4
DUBIOUS : I like to stay at home on a Sunday, as I've said above.
GOOD : I like to stay at home on a Sunday, as I've already said.
DUBIOUS : What do you think of the above suggestion?
GOOD : What do you think of my/this suggestion?
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Above is used in formal writing to refer to something that has been mentioned earlier: 'From the above arguments it can be seen that supporters of the dam project fall into two camps.' In informal styles, this use of above is inappropriate.
5
BAD : Where would you like to go above all?
GOOD : Where would you like to go most of all?
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When you mean 'more than anywhere/anything/anyone else', use most of all or the most : 'What worries me most of all is that the car is not roadworthy.' 'The one I liked the most was too expensive.'