Writing

Comparisons

Adjectives and adverbs can be used to make comparisons. The comparative form is used to compare two people, ideas, or things. The superlative form with the word "the" is used to compare three or more. Comparatives and superlatives are often used in writing to hedge or boost language.

Here are some rules and examples of how to form the comparatives and superlatives:

General Rules for Comparatives and Superlatives

	Adjective or Adverb	Comparative	Superlative
One-syllable adjectives	small	smaller	(the) smallest
	fast	faster	(the) fastest
	large	larger	(the) largest
	big	bigger (Note the spelling here)	(the) biggest
Most two-syllable adjectives	thoughtful	more/less thoughtful	(the) most/least thoughtful
	useful	more/less useful	(the) most/least useful
Adverbs ending in -ly	carefully	more/less carefully	(the) most/least careful
	slowly	more/less slowly	(the) most/least slowly
Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y	sleepy	sleepier	(the) sleepiest
	happy	happier	(the) happiest
Two-syllable adjectives ending with –er, -le, -or, or –ow	little	littler	(the) littlest
	narrow	narrower	(the) narrowest
	gentle	gentler	(the) gentlest
Three or more syllable adjectives	intelligent	more/less intelligent	(the) most/least intelligent
	important	more/less important	(the) most/least important

 

Two-Syllable Adjectives That Follow Two Rules (either form is correct)

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
clever	more/less clever	(the) most/least clever
	cleverer	(the) cleverest
simple	more/less simple	(the) most/least simple
	simpler	(the) simplest
friendly	more/less friendly	(the) most/least friendly
	friendlier	(the) friendliest

 

Irregular Adjectives

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	(the) best
bad	worse	(the) worst
far	farther	(the) farthest
little	less	(the) least
few	fewer	(the) fewest

 

To find other comparative structures, look up the word in an online dictionary such as Merriam Webster. If you are a multilingual writer, you may find Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary helpful for level-appropriate definitions and examples.

To form comparative sentences, use the comparative with the word "than." Here are some examples:

• Fewer participants volunteered for the study than I had anticipated.  
• Business school was less expensive than law school.
•  His application was processed more quickly than he thought.

It is also possible to use "(not) as…as" to express similarity or differences. Here are some examples:

• Reading is as enjoyable as writing.
• The results were as conclusive as in previous studies.
• Finding participants for the study was not as easy as I thought.
• Her level of expertise was not as extensive as her employer had hoped.

Transitions such as "and," "but," "in addition," "in contrast," "furthermore," and "on the other hand" can also be used to show comparison. See our website page on transitions and sentence structures and types of sentences for more information and examples.

Common Error 1: Using the comparative instead of the superlative

• INCORRECT: He is the happier person I know.
• REVISION: He is the happiest person I know.
   
• INCORRECT: She is the more thoughtful person I know.
• REVISION: She is the most thoughtful person I know.

 

Common Error 2: Doubling up comparisons or superlatives

• INCORRECT: His car is more faster than mine.
• REVISION: His car is faster than mine.
   
• INCORRECT: His car is the most fastest.
• REVISION: His car is the fastest.

 

Common Error 3: Using empty comparisons (part of the comparison is missing)

• INCORRECT: The participants were more experienced.
• REVISION: The participants were more experienced than the previous participant pool.
   
• INCORRECT: The line moved more slowly.
• REVISION: The line moved more slowly than the line next to it.

 

Common Error 4: Using ambiguous comparisons (the comparison has more than one possible meaning)

• INCORRECT: She likes pizza better than her husband. (Does this mean that pizza is better than her husband?)
• REVISION: She likes pizza better than her husband does. (Now it is clear that the comparison is who likes pizza more.)
   
• INCORRECT: Her suitcase is bigger than John. (Does this mean that the size of the suitcase is larger than another person?)
• REVISION: Her suitcase is bigger than John’s. (Now it is clear that the comparison is about two suitcases, not about John.)

 

Common Error 5: Missing the article “the” in the superlative

• INCORRECT: Finishing quickly was least important task.
• REVISION: Finishing quickly was the least important task.
   
• INCORRECT: The youngest girl was also littlest.
• REVISION: The youngest girl was also the littlest.