Appreciate it, Kathleen.
Scott
--- On Fri, 2/26/10, Kathleen M. Ward <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Kathleen M. Ward <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Double suffixes
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 10:21 AM
I think the problem is that the -est superlative ending is not normally applied to adjectives (or participles) that have two or more syllables, unless the adjective ends in -y, or, for some people, -ow. Most two-syllable adjectives and participles form the superlative with "most."
So it's
nice nicer nicest
pretty prettier prettiest
shallow [?] shallower [?] shallowest
but
common more common most common
charming more charming most charming
winning more winning most winning
Is that in any way a help?
Kathleen Ward
On Feb 26, 2010, at 9:36 AM, Scott Lavitt wrote:
> Recently a high school boy used the word "winningest," as in "the winningest team," which just sounds wrong to me. It's listed as an informal word in Webster's. I was trying to think of a rule why this may not be SAE. First I thought perhaps the double suffix, -ing and -est, but I can think of examples where double suffixes are acceptable. I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on the matter.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Scott
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