"commonest" or "most common"?

peter1997 · Post by **peter1997** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:30 am

I'm currently a graduate student in Beijing, China. When reading some literature recently, I came upon the use of "commonest" and "most common" by native writers interchangeablely. I just wonder which use is more proper, or both are OK, from the point of view of linguistics. Any help is appreciated!

Metamorfose · Post by **Metamorfose** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:57 pm

For the sake of simplification and efficiency I teach my students to use most + word over the word+(-est) form when both are arguably possible, but I tell them that they might come across the -est forms as well.

I dare say both are OK.

José

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:44 pm

Both are correct and often used.

Two syllable words ending in '-ing' and 'ish' always take more/most.

Those ending in 'y' always take 'er/est'.

There is an increasing tendency for the others to itake 'more/most' but the 'er/est' form is stiil common in words ending, in '-er' (cleverer) 'id' (stupidest) and '-le(abler) '-ow' (mellower) and no doubt others that don't come to mind.

ssean · Post by **ssean** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:34 pm

My intuition says most common, the alternative to me sounds clumsy.

peter1997 · Post by **peter1997** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:09 am

Thank all of you for your detailed information and constructive suggestions. Viewing "more/most + adj." is current more prevalent than "adj. + -er/est" when the two forms are juxtaposed, as you suggested, could we possibly say that is a further demonstration of the loss of inflexions, from the point view of linguistics.
Thank for your help! Happy New Year!

JuanTwoThree · Post by **JuanTwoThree** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:57 pm

One can't always make the facts fit the theories:

"narrower" googles at 9,100,000 and "more narrow" at
653,000.

"narrowest" also beats "most narrow" by 1,910,000 to 653,000

"more common than" 1,690,00 "commoner than" 32,000

"the commonest" 2 million "the most common" 62 million

"more clever" 542,000 "cleverer" 476,000

"more handsome" 195,000 "handsomer" 203,000

So no conclusion except that the -er/est is far from being conclusively less prevalent and is alive and kicking even written down. I would expect it to be even more prevalent in spoken English. There are those that might baulk at writing down "handsomer" but would say it without hesitation .