Common Mistake: Using the wrong preposition in comparative sentences

Mistake: 'superior/inferior than' (superior/inferior to)

One common mistake that many people make is using the wrong preposition in comparative sentences. Specifically, they often use 'than' in place of the correct preposition 'to' when using the adjectives 'superior' and 'inferior'.

For example:

• Incorrect: The new model is superior than the older one.
• Incorrect: Her performance was inferior than her competitor's.

In these sentences, the correct preposition to use is 'to'. Therefore, the corrected sentences should be:

• Correct: The new model is superior to the older one.
• Correct: Her performance was inferior to her competitor's.

Remember, when comparing things using the adjectives 'superior' and 'inferior', always use the preposition 'to' instead of 'than'.

Mistake: Using 'more' with 'superior' or 'inferior'

Another common mistake is using 'more' with the adjectives 'superior' or 'inferior'. However, these adjectives do not require an explicit comparative form.

For example:

• Incorrect: She is more superior than her teammates.
• Incorrect: The second movie is more inferior than the first one.

In these sentences, the use of 'more' is unnecessary and incorrect. The correct sentences should be:

• Correct: She is superior to her teammates.
• Correct: The second movie is inferior to the first one.

Remember, when using 'superior' or 'inferior', there is no need to add 'more' before them. Simply use the adjectives on their own.

As a final note, using a grammar checker like Linguix can help you avoid these common mistakes and improve your writing overall.