No 'more' or 'most' before comparatives

Many writers pair more/most with adjectives that already use -er/-est (more smarter, most fastest). That "double comparative" is nonstandard and creates awkward, redundant sentences.

Quick answer

Use either -er/-est or more/most + base form - not both. Keep the adjective in one comparative or superlative form, and add an intensifier (much, far, by far) if you need extra emphasis.

Wrong: She is more smarter than him. →
Right: She is smarter than him.
Wrong: This is the most fastest car on the market. →
Right: This is the fastest car on the market.
If you want emphasis: She is much smarter; By far the fastest.

Core rule: More OR -er, not both

Choose one formation. Short adjectives usually take -er/-est; longer adjectives take more/most with the base form. Never stack more/most onto an -er/-est form.

Quick fix: 1) Find the adjective. 2) If it ends in -er/-est, remove more/most. 3) If it doesn't, use more/most with the base form.

Correct: smarter, colder, better, fastest.
Correct: more reliable, most interesting, more difficult.
Avoid: more + -er and most + -est.

How comparatives and superlatives are formed (brief grammar notes)

One-syllable adjectives usually add -er/-est (tall → taller/tallest). Two-syllable words vary; many longer adjectives use more/most (interesting → more interesting). Apply normal spelling rules: drop a final -e, change -y to -ier, double final consonants when needed.

happy → happier / happiest (y → -ier/-iest).
large → larger / largest.
difficult → more difficult / most difficult.
good → better / best (irregular).

Wrong: He was more colder yesterday. →
Right: He was colder yesterday.
Wrong: She is more friendlier than her sister. →
Right: She is friendlier than her sister.

Real usage and tone: when to prefer more/most or -er/-est

In formal writing, stick to standard comparative patterns. Spoken English sometimes tolerates doubles, but they remain nonstandard in edited prose.

For stronger effect, use intensifiers (much, far, by far) or rephrase instead of adding more to an -er form.

Formal: Use correct forms in reports, academic work, and client emails.
Informal: Avoid doubles if you want to sound clear in texts or posts.
Emphasis: much smarter, far better, by far the best.

Work:
Correct: The proposal is more comprehensive than theirs.
Wrong: The proposal is more more comprehensive than theirs.
Casual:
Correct: He's way funnier in person.
Wrong: He's more funnier in person.

Examples you can copy: grouped by work, school, and casual

Each pair shows a common double-comparative error and a corrected sentence you can use immediately.

Work:
Wrong: Our new plan is more better than the old one. →
Right: Our new plan is better than the old one.
Work:
Wrong: The revised draft is more clearer for the client. →
Right: The revised draft is clearer for the client.
Work:
Wrong: This spreadsheet is most up-to-date and most accurate. →
Right: This spreadsheet is the most up-to-date and most accurate.
School:
Wrong: This test felt most hardest of the semester. →
Right: This test felt the hardest of the semester.
School:
Wrong: His essay was more well-argued than mine. →
Right: His essay was better argued than mine.
School:
Wrong: Her thesis is more original than mine. →
Right: Her thesis is more original than mine. (original is a long adjective)
Casual:
Wrong: That movie is more funnier than the trailer made it seem. →
Right: That movie is funnier than the trailer made it seem.
Casual:
Wrong: She's most smartest in our group. →
Right: She's the smartest in our group.
Casual:
Wrong: I'm more hungrier than I thought. →
Right: I'm hungrier than I thought.
Mixed: Wrong: He's more better at Python than Java. →
Right: He's better at Python than Java. (Or: He's much better at Python than Java.)
Mixed: Wrong: The second design is most most creative. →
Right: The second design is the most creative.
Mixed: Wrong: Their service is most slowest in winter. →
Right: Their service is slowest in winter. (Or: Their service is the slowest in winter.)

Try your own sentence

Check the adjective in context. Read the whole sentence aloud - double comparatives usually sound redundant and break the sentence rhythm.

Fix your sentence: quick rewrites and three ready-to-paste fixes

Keep a short checklist and use these ready rewrites.

Checklist: 1) Find more/most. 2) Inspect the adjective ending. 3) If it ends in -er/-est, delete more/most; otherwise use more/most with the base.
If you need emphasis, swap in much/far or restructure: X is the best by far.

Rewrite:
Wrong: She is more smarter than him. →
Rewrite: She is smarter than him. (Emphatic: She is much smarter.)
Rewrite:
Wrong: This is the most fastest route. →
Rewrite: This is the fastest route. (Emphatic: This is by far the fastest route.)
Rewrite:
Wrong: The updated model is more cheaper for small businesses. →
Rewrite: The updated model is cheaper for small businesses. (Or: The updated model is more affordable for small businesses.)
Template: Use "X is ADJ-er than Y" or "X is more ADJ than Y" - pick one pattern and apply it consistently.

Memory tricks and editing signals to catch doubles

Try the mnemonic "More OR -er": imagine a sign with two arrows and pick one. Highlight more/most and check the adjective ending.

Proofreading habit: circle more/most and underline the adjective. If it ends in -er/-est, delete more/most.
Replace more + -er with much/far when you need emphasis.
Watch common triggers: emphasizing short adjectives or misremembering irregulars (good → better).
Memory example: more taller → 'taller' ends in -er, so delete 'more' → taller.

Hyphenation, spacing, and other small formatting gotchas

After removing words, fix spacing and hyphens so the sentence reads cleanly. Compound modifiers before a noun often need a hyphen (best-known, well-known).

Search for double spaces after edits.
Compound modifier example: before a noun use a hyphen (the best-known artist); after a noun no hyphen is needed (the artist is best known for...).
If you change wording (more affordable → more cost-effective) check whether a hyphen improves clarity when used attributively.
Spacing: Fix leftover double spaces after deletions.
Hyphen: Wrong: the most well known artist →
Right: the most well-known artist or the best-known artist.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Writers who use double comparatives often make related errors: stacking most with -est, misusing unique, or mixing than/then. Fixing these improves overall clarity.

Most + -est is wrong (most prettiest → prettiest).
Unique implies one of a kind - avoid more unique unless you mean more unusual.
Use than for comparisons and then for sequence or time.

Wrong: That is the most prettiest painting here. →
Right: That is the prettiest painting here.
Wrong: This is more unique than the other design. →
Right: This design is more unusual than the other design. (Or: This is unique.)
Wrong: She was more taller than me then yesterday. →
Right: She was taller than me yesterday.

FAQ

Is "more better" correct?

No. Better is already the comparative of good. Use better alone or add an intensifier for emphasis (much better, far better).

Can I say "more smarter" in casual speech?

People sometimes say it in casual speech, but it's nonstandard. Avoid it in writing; use smarter or much smarter for emphasis.

When should I use "more" instead of -er?

Use more for most adjectives of two or more syllables (more difficult, more interesting). One-syllable adjectives typically use -er. Check a dictionary for two-syllable exceptions.

Is "most fastest" ever correct?

No. Fastest is already a superlative. Use fastest alone or emphasize with by far the fastest.

Quick fix: how do I edit a double comparative in my sentence?

Find the adjective. If it ends in -er/-est, delete more/most. If it doesn't, remove any incorrect -er/-est and use more/most with the base form, or choose an intensifier like much or far.

Want a fast sentence check?

Keep the "More OR -er" check handy: scan for more/most, inspect the adjective, and pick one form. Paste questionable sentences into a grammar checker for quick suggestions and brief explanations.