Page 1 of 1
"commonest" or "most common"?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:30 am
by peter1997
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!
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:57 pm
by Metamorfose
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
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:44 pm
by Stephen Jones
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.
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:34 pm
by ssean
My intuition says most common, the alternative to me sounds clumsy.
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:09 am
by peter1997
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!
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:57 pm
by JuanTwoThree
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 .