Is there an issue with the title of the next HP book? I mean, what do I know about adverbs and their uses compared to any other buffista!

Then there are those for whom the word "deathly" was cringe-inducing for a different reason - the readers who thought Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was in dire need of a strong editing hand. "Deathly" is an adverb. In the title of the book. How lazy can you get?

Is there a rule against adverbs in titles? This is news to me. Best American Essays ? "Best" is an adverb, right? (Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs mofidy verbs and adjectives.)

Also, the L-Y construction doesn't have to be an adverb, does it? I mean, Jennifer was always a sickly child. "sickly" modifies "child", and so is an adjective. I think the L-Y construction is usually a signal of an oncoming adverb, but may instead be, as in this case, an archaic abbreviation of "like".

the Deathly Hallows are hallows that are deathly, i.e. death-like, i.e., nouns modified by adjectives. By all means, criticize J. K. Rowling for boring use of adverbs, but, criticize the right adverbs, you know?

I like adverbs! But I must admit the author of that article has a point, Harry Potter and the Hallows of Death has more of a ring to it.

"Best" is an adverb, right? (Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs mofidy verbs and adjectives.)

Only if it's essays by the best Americans. Otherwise, "best" is modifying "Essays" and is thus an adjective. I think. In fact, I'm not sure that "best" can ever be an adverb - certainly, I'm having trouble thinking of a case.

I do think that adverbs are allowed in titles, however. And as you say, "Deathly" is not an adverb in that title, I would think, since the "the" definitely implies that the hallows, whatever they are, are at least a noun.

I still hate the title, though.

Best is an adjective in that case (and in most). It would be an adverb if you didn't hyphenate "best-laid plans", not that I'm sure that wouldn't be incorrect.

If "deathly" is not the adjectival form, I'm not sure what is. "Deathy" is not a word, nor "deathous". It can be an adverb: "deathly pale" (pale being an adjective describing something), but I see no issue with using it as an adjective, as well.

In conclusion, blog-writer-whose-page-will-not-load, if you use an incorrect example to make a point (in this case about her over-use of adverbs), it will make me think you do not know what you're talking about.

Laga, Hallows of death, to me, means something else. Those would be, in my head, ghosts that are going to kill you (synonymous with deadly hallows). Deathly hallows are...well, really dead ghosts...or something like that.

Or death-like saints?

Doesn't any one else think that 'Hallows' could be a place-name or place-name element? That's the other meaning I'm familiar with for it.

That's not "hollow" or "hollows"?

That's a place-name element too, it's true, but I'm sure 'hallows' is as well.