Common mistake Zero or indefinite article ('a'/'an') before superlatives

Zero or indefinite article ('a'/'an') before superlatives

One common mistake that is often made in English grammar is the incorrect use or omission of the article 'a' or 'an' before superlatives. Superlatives are words that show the highest degree of an adjective or adverb, such as 'biggest', 'best', 'most', 'least', and 'greatest'.

Using the definite article 'the' before superlatives

In English, when using a superlative form of an adjective or adverb, it is important to include the definite article 'the' before it. This is because the superlative form implies a specific noun that is being compared to others. Without the definite article, the sentence may sound incomplete or nonsensical.

Incorrect: The book is best in the library.

Correct: The book is the best in the library.

Using a determiner before superlatives

In some cases, a determiner is necessary before a superlative form to show which specific noun is being compared. Determiners are words like 'my', 'his', 'her', 'their', 'these', 'those', 'some', 'any', and 'every'. Without a determiner, the sentence may lack clarity and it may be unclear what is being compared.

Incorrect: I have best car in town.

Correct: I have the best car in town.

Incorrect: She is smartest girl in class.

Correct: She is the smartest girl in class.

Overall, it is important to remember to use the definite article 'the' before superlatives and to include a determiner if necessary.

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Zero or indefinite article ('a'/'an') before superlatives mistake examples

Incorrect:
Kyoto is an oldest city.

Correct:
Kyoto is the oldest city.
Correct:
Kyoto is the oldest city.
Correct:
And Truly It Is a Most Glorious Thing
Correct:
He made a fortune by writing a best selling novel.
Correct:
...empty set of real numbers with an upper bound has a least upper bound.
Correct:
I have a best friend. His name is Karl.
Correct:
I want a best friend.

Incorrect:
The guy is funniest friend.

Correct:
The guy is the funniest friend.
Incorrect:
Facebook (biggest social network)

Correct:
Facebook (the biggest social network)
Incorrect:
... at the moment, with latest forecasts suggesting the outbreak will lead...

Correct:
... at the moment, with the latest forecasts suggesting the outbreak will lead...
Incorrect:
Sandanski is hottest city in Bulgaria.

Correct:
Sandanski is the hottest city in Bulgaria.
Incorrect:
$103 deal of the day is lowest price ever according to camels.

Correct:
$103 deal of the day is the lowest price ever according to camels.
Correct:
The guy is the funniest friend.
Correct:
He is my best friend.
Correct:
Confucianism was particularly strong during the Han Dynasty, whose greatest thinker was Dong Zhongshu.
Correct:
American placed the "largest aircraft order in history" in July 2011, purchasing 460 "next generation" Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft for delivery between 2013 and 2022.
Correct:
Second largest \u0026amp; busiest Railway station in Asia.
Correct:
Historian Samuel Walker writes that the ACLU’s “greatest impact on American life” was its role in persuading the Supreme Court to constitutionalize so many public controversies.
Correct:
…largest animals known to exist.
Correct:
...in 1984: "... wisest animals on the farm, and one of the few who can read properly."
Correct:
...50 Most Beautiful People in 1998 and was voted "hottest female athlete" on ESPN.com.
Correct:
Kindest regards
Correct:
... described him as being the seventy-third greatest Briton of all time.
Correct:
-The easiest moments.
Correct:
... way to help countries worst hit by the virus.
Correct:
... the northern region worst hit by the outbreak...
Correct:
He sorted it from largest to smallest categories.
Correct:
Students were often each others worst enemies when discussing their experiences
Correct:
What's your deepest darkest secret?
Correct:
What's your deepest/darkest secret?
Correct:
Please order by the most/least expensive
Correct:
... which makes Ralph Lauren the 102nd richest person in America.
Correct:
Nearest neighbor methods are nearest neighbor methods.
Correct:
This is the number of nearest neighbors.
Correct:
The number of nearest neighbor atoms.
Correct:
It is optimized for K nearest neighbor search.
Correct:
the nation's biggest accounting firms
Correct:
the nation's youngest cable TV Director
Correct:
one of God?s greatest hits.
Correct:
Greatest thing since sliced bread.

Incorrect:
Be best writer you can be.

Correct:
Be the best writer you can be.
Incorrect:
Sue L. is best choice.

Correct:
Sue L. is the best choice.
Correct:
You are most welcome.
Correct:
Last week, Cregg Lancaster furnished Reliant's newest form of Schedule and Paragraph 13 for our review.
Correct:
Parliament was reinstated, and the monarchy was restored to Charles I's eldest son, Charles II, in 1660.
Correct:
at Enron Corp.'s biggest division
Correct:
We're best able to study in the fall.

Correct:
He is at least my friend.
Incorrect:
The guy is least funny friend.

Correct:
The guy is the least funny friend.
Correct:
The guy is the least funny friend.
Correct:
He is least likely to come.
Correct:
The most effective, least addictive medicine.
Correct:
Wallonia has become one of Europe's most secular/least religious regions.
Correct:
Given a wire contour, the surface of least area spanning ("filling") it is a minimal surface...

Incorrect:
The guy is best driver.

Correct:
The guy is the best driver.
Incorrect:
We're best available in the market.

Correct:
We're the best available in the market.
Incorrect:
They are best workers 9 times out of ten.

Correct:
They are the best workers 9 times out of ten.
Correct:
The guy is the best driver.
Correct:
He is my best friend.
Correct:
Learn how to best approach the crisis.
Correct:
It is in our economic best interest.
Correct:
We're best available 9am to 6pm CET.
Correct:
We are best available 9 to 6 on weekdays.
Correct:
They're best contactable 09:50 to 18:35 CET.
Correct:
We're best available 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Correct:
It's our first best guess.
Correct:
We're best able to study in the fall.
Correct:
Best thing since sliced bread.

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