Faulty Comparison

A faulty comparison error occurs when the word "more" is used to modify an adjective or adverb that already ends with "-er." For example:

The "more" and the "-er" form of a word function the same way, so it is unnecessary to use both when you are comparing two things.

When three or more things are being compared, use the word "most" or the "-est" form of the word. "Most," along with the "-est" form of a word, is used to mean "to the greatest degree." But you should not use the two together. An error occurs when the word "most" is used with the "-est" form of an adjective or adverb. For example:

Most one-syllable words form comparisons by using "-er" and "-est." Words of two or more syllables and words ending in "-ful" (wonderful) and "-ly" (sharply) form comparisons by using "more" or "most." Comparisons that are negative use "less" for the comparison of two things and "least" for the comparison of three or more things.

Of the three classes that I have in the morning before lunch, chemistry is the easiest.

A few words are exceptions to the rules described above. The following examples might help you to memorize these exceptions:

My sister is a gooder runner than my brother is.

In this first comparison, the word good should be replaced with the word better:

My sister is a better runner than my brother is.

In the second example, the description of the negative (how well my sister runs compared to all the runners on the team) takes this form:

However, of all the runners on the track team, my sister is the second worst!