disappearing prepositions

[sagehen]

arnold writes:

>my speculation is that once people heard a few instances of this use of
"hopefully" they said, in effect: now *that's* just what i want!"  and
so it spread.  almost as good as sliced bread.

its only defect was that it was new.<
~~~~~~~~~
Can't agree that  "its *only* defect"...... Its use can be fully as
misleading in some cases as may/might confusion.  E.g., relaying news of
someone else, as in "He's off  hopefully getting sthg or other at the
hardware store."  Is it *his* hope of success or is it *mine* that he won't
be sidetracked into the Sidetrack?

I acknowledge that like a lot of other old farts I have had to become
accustomed to its use (by others!), but it still feels mealy-mouthed to me,
sort of generalizing  a hope instead of frankly owning it.
A. Murie