by Sentenceworks
Comparison
Comparisons are fairly easy. Comparison sentences tend to use superlatives (e.g. good/ better/ best) or words like “more” and “most”.The mistakes one must watch for involve not finishing the comparison, or trying to compare something which cannot be compared.
Comparison of Absolutes
Some adjectives are absolute, and should not be qualified. For example, something cannot be “more perfect” or “most perfect”, or even “less perfect”; something is either perfect, or it is not.
Incorrect: He is a fairly unique individual.
The adjective, “unique”, is absolute; one is either unique or one is not unique. The word, “fairly”, is unnecessary and should be removed.
Incorrect: The project was mostly complete by the end of the day.
“Complete” is an absolute, and should not be qualified by “mostly”. The sentence could be re-worded as, “ The project was almost finished by the end of the day.”
Exception:
Some adjectives such as “nearly” and “almost” can be used to demonstrate attainment of a near-absolute state.
Correct: The project was well-nigh impossible.
While the adjective, “impossible” is an absolute, the project can be described as coming close to the state of impossible.
Incomplete Comparisons
When something is being compared to something else, the sentence must clearly identify all things being compared. Often, the comparative sentence includes a word like “more”, “less”, or “so”; the sentence also needs to include words like “than” or “that”.
Incorrect: That comedian is more straight-forward with his jokes.
The words, “more straight-forward”, imply a comparison, but there is nothing to which one can compare the comedian. The sentence might be finished with, “…than the other comedian who tells long, convoluted stories.”
Incorrect: Bryan is so funny.
The word, “so”, implies a comparison should be made. If a comparison is to be made, the sentence could be finished with, “…that it is difficult to pay attention to the teacher.” If there is no comparison to be made, the “so” can be removed and replaced by a qualifier: Bryan is very funny.
Double Comparatives
In English, comparisons are made by adding “more” or “less” in front of an adjective or adverb, or by adding -er to the end of an adjective. If both methods are used, a double comparative is formed. The double comparative is unnecessary, and is an error frequently made by young children, so it adds a childish tone to the writing.
Incorrect: The lemon cake was more sweeter than the chocolate cake.
“More sweeter” is a double comparative; “more” should be removed from the sentence.
Incorrect: The lemon cake was less sweeter than the pecan pie.
“Less sweeter” is a double comparative. The sentence should be re-written: The lemon cake was less sweet than the pecan pie.
Incorrect: Ann is more likelier to fail the class than Martha.
With this double comparative, it would be best to remove the –er and use a proper adverb: Ann is more likely to fail the class than Martha.
Incorrect: The second exam was not less harder than the first exam.
Even in the negative, double comparatives are unnecessary. “Not less harder” would be better written as “not easier”: The second exam was not easier than the first exam.
Double Superlatives
To use a superlative is to say something is the best, the most, the only one; there is nothing better (or worse, or funnier, or younger) than the thing being described by the superlative. We show the superlative by putting the word “most” before an adjective, or by adding –est to the end of an adjective. The article “the” will also be in front of either “most” or the adjective ending in –est.
If both “most” and -est are used, a double superlative is formed. The double superlative is unnecessary, and is an error frequently made by young children, so it adds a childish tone to the writing.
Incorrect: His bedroom is not the most cleanest room in the house.
Even when the sentence is written in the negative, “most cleanest” is a double superlative. The sentence should be written: His bedroom is not the cleanest room in the house.
Incorrect: Bertrand is the most oldest boy in his family.
“The most oldest” should be replaced with “the eldest”: Bertrand is the eldest boy in his family.
Superlatives: misuse of “more”
If the word “more” is used in place of “most”, the superlative becomes a comparison. To avoid making a comparison where you want to use a superlative, use “most”.
Incorrect: The performers were all good, but that comedian was the more entertaining one of the set.
In this sentence, we are trying to say the comedian was the best part of the evening. As we need to use a superlative to do this, we should say “…that comedian was the most entertaining one….”
Incorrect: Of the three Bronte sisters, Charlotte was the more adept writer.
“More” should be replaced by “most”, as a superlative is required to compare the three writers.