Bryson•s Dictionary for Writers and Editors

232
most / Muhammad (or Mohammed)
most. Unless you are striving for an air of folksiness, most as an adverb
should be confined to signifying the topmost degree (“the
most delicious cake”) or as a synonym for very (“Your offer is
most welcome”). As an alternative for almost or nearly (“He
would eat most anything”) it is generally not welcome in serious
writing.
Mother’s Day.
mot juste. (Fr.) The right word.
motto, pl. mottoes.
mountebank. A charlatan.
Mourning Becomes Electra. Play by Eugene O’Neill (1931).
moussaka.
mousy (pref.), mousey (alt.).
Mozambique, but Mozambican.
mozzarella.
Mpumalanga. South African province, formerly Eastern Transvaal.
MRSA. Short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type
of bacterial infection.
MS is the abbreviation for manuscript; pl. MSS (capitalized but
without periods).
MT is the postal abbreviation of Montana; the traditional abbreviation
is Mont., with period.
Mubarak, (Muhammad) Hosni (Said). (1928–) Egyptian president (1981–).
mucous, mucus, mucosa. The first is the adjectival form, the second
the noun form. Thus, mucus is the substance secreted by the mucous
membranes. A more formal name for the latter is mucosa.
Mueller, Lisel. (1924–) German-born American poet.
Muenster/Munster. Either is correct for the cheese from Alsace. See
also munster, münster.
muezzin. In Islam, an official who calls the faithful to prayer.
mufti. Plain clothes worn by a person who usually wears a uniform.
Muhammad (or Mohammed). (c. 570–632) Founder of Islam.