Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Quick and Dirty Tips to remember the difference. The Dangling Modifier grammar This is great - but how about the new and exciting comparative adverb? Isn't it better to say that "The boy ran quickerly than his friend", for example, than "The boy ran more quickly"? I have written expansiverly on this here: http://thedanglingmodifier.co.uk/ http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=20754#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=20754#Comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:15:45 GMT Dawn grammar Would putting two superlatives together be incorrect. To me it sounds incorrect. Example: It is the most easiest thing. Easiest implies that it is already the most so MOST isn't need and sounds improper. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=18215#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=18215#Comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:20:07 GMT Allan Schultz grammar If two in a group are equal and better that all others, can either claim to be "the best"? e.g., if heights are a=5 feet, b=5.25 feet, c=5.5 feet, d= six feet, and e= six feet, is it legitimate for d to claim "I am the tallest in the group", and likewise for e? Thanks. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=17084#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=17084#Comments Wed, 20 May 2009 23:55:08 GMT Maryan Pelland grammar Great column - and really worth thinking about. Have you talked about forming comparatives properly? My pet peeve - news anchors drive me nutz with "more smart than"! see this short article http://tinyurl.com/c37flt mkp www.ontext.com http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=16817#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=16817#Comments Sat, 02 May 2009 15:09:53 GMT Dee grammar Doesn't the use of "than" negate the use of a superlative? "He practiced more diligently than all the other athletes." Please help. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=14756#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=14756#Comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:30:27 GMT Kathy grammar Questions: What is the correct verb to use in the following sentence, "is" or "are"? Should I use the word "more" or "most" in the following sentence? Sentence: The most important of these factors is a, b, and c. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13721#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13721#Comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:26:47 GMT Ben grammar Re: "...best foot forward..." I've never considered this expression to mean "best of your two feet forward", but rather considered it a figurative foot. I envision it to mean that you shouldn't put your groggy Monday-morning foot forward, or your lazy Saturday-morning foot, but rather to put your well-rested, Sunday-morning, church-going foot forward. Does that make sense? In this regard, "best" fits the rules better than "better" does. :) http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13431#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13431#Comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:25:19 GMT Philipp grammar @Isabella: no you are absolutely right. :) http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13429#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13429#Comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:38:53 GMT Isela grammar Using worse and worst correctly... incorrect: Alfonso's eye got worst over the weekend. Correct: Alfonso's eye got worse over the weekend. Am I wrong? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13426#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13426#Comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:25:18 GMT Philipp grammar I just heard this episode and wanted to let you in on something my Latin teacher taught me. He said that a superlative is an absolute. That means unless you qualify it somehow best means the absolute best ever. So you say "put the best foot forward" not because you should put the better of your two feet forward but because you should choose the best. That means even if you magically turned into a spider with eight feet the saying would still hold true. The way I remember this is by inserting "and all potential" mentally. I would say "You should the best foot (of the ones I have and all potential ones) forward". From that point forward your rules apply in terms of the number of things applies. Thanks for a wonderful podcast. Best regards, Philipp http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13418#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx?commentid=13418#Comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:43:46 GMT Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:15:45 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comparatives-versus-superlatives.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us