Common mistake SUPERLATIVE + THAN, e.g. worst (worse) than
Common Grammar Mistake: Superlative + Than
One common grammar mistake that many people make is using the comparative form of an adjective, instead of the superlative form, when comparing two things. This mistake often occurs when using the word "than" to compare the two items.
Comparative vs. Superlative
Before we dive into the common mistake, let's quickly review the difference between the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.
- Comparative: This form of an adjective is used to compare two items. It is formed by adding -er to the end of the adjective, or by using "more" before the adjective. For example: Jane is taller than Tom. OR Jane is more intelligent than Tom.
- Superlative: This form of an adjective is used to compare three or more items. It is formed by adding -est to the end of the adjective, or by using "most" before the adjective. For example: Jane is the tallest in her class. OR Jane is the most intelligent in her class.
The Common Mistake
The mistake occurs when people use the comparative form of an adjective, instead of the superlative form, after the word "than" when comparing two things. Let's look at some examples:
- Incorrect: This is the worse decision I've ever made than before.
- Correct: This is the worst decision I've ever made than before.
- Incorrect: Sarah's house is bigger than John's house.
- Correct: Sarah's house is bigger than John's house.
Using Linguix Grammar Checker
To avoid making this common grammar mistake, you can use the Linguix grammar checker tool. It will help you identify and correct any instances where you have used the improper form of an adjective when comparing two things. With Linguix, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and error-free.
Remember, when comparing two items, always use the superlative form of the adjective, not the comparative form, after the word "than". Pay attention to this common mistake and make sure to use the correct form to enhance the clarity and accuracy of your writing.
SUPERLATIVE + THAN, e.g. worst (worse) than mistake examples
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Incorrect:That's worst than before!Correct:That's iller than|worse than before!
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Incorrect:Tom has been most than generous.Correct:Tom has been more than generous.
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Incorrect:I want to do a routine, if sensor great than x° do something.Correct:I want to do a routine, if sensor greater than x° do something.
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Correct:...rather than receiving goods being distributed "according...
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Correct:This was differently than I had expected.
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Correct:The two traditions may have had more in common than initially appears.
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Correct:...als with Asperger syndrome tend to perform better cognitively than those with autism, the extent of the overlap...
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Correct:... with autism are about 25 times more likely to be autistic than the general population.
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Correct:He is no more foolish than you are.
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Correct:All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others
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Correct:I would rather go out than stay at home.
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Correct:I prefer to be crazy than sad.
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Correct:They do better together than apart.
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Correct:I may as well go out than stay at home.
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Correct:While no nation other than the Russian Federation (and previously the f...
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Correct:No sooner had I gone out than it began to rain.
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Correct:Most scientific breakthroughs are nothing else than the discovery of the obvious.
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Correct:...t his use of the term science carries a different meaning than that covered by the term "scientific method"...
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Correct:...don't think that there is any better way to learn English than by living in America.
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Correct:This will allow us to identify style issues and display them differently than grammar errors.
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Correct:They seem to behave differently than some other other types of error.
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Correct:The blame goes way further back than the ‘Iraqi Government’.
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Correct:The firm sold approximately three times as much than it bought.
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Correct:Just want to make sure than the notional quantities will be sufficient.
