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 > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/