Grammar Police! Comparative Chaos: Why "More Smarter" Is Never the Answer

Protect your writing reputation by understanding how comparative modifiers are correctly formed

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Adjective comparatives are all about comparing two (or more) things. You’ve probably said something like, “My hat is newer than yours.” But here's the thing: there’s a correct way to form comparatives and a whole mess of incorrect ways that you should probably avoid if you want to sound, well, literate.

There’s no gray area here. It’s not up for debate; the rules are solid. Unfortunately, some people have decided to toss the rulebook out the window. But hey, if you enjoy sounding like a writing rookie, feel free.

Take, for example, when political pundits (or anyone, really) start saying things like "more tall" or "more smart"—don't get me started. My inner Grammar Police is on full alert. It's not that you can't get creative, but there are actual rules in play here. Trust me, I checked. I went to The Chicago Manual of Style, and it’s not just them: other style guides agree.

So, here’s the comparative modifier rundown if you want to write like a pro:

• If the adjective has one syllable and ends in an e, just add an r. (Think tamer, finer)

• If it has one syllable, one vowel, and ends in a consonant (like big or flat), double that last consonant and throw an -er on it. (Bigger, flatter)

• If the adjective has one syllable but more vowels or consonants in the middle (like clean or sharp), just add -er. (Cleaner, sharper)

• For adjectives with two syllables that end in -y (think messy, shiny, heavy), change the y to an i and add -er. (Messier, shinier)

• Now, if you’ve got a two- or more syllable modifier that doesn’t end in y, you don’t add anything to the word—you put the word more ahead of the modifier. (So, more expensive, more interesting, but please, more perfecter is not a thing.)

And then, of course, there are the irregular comparatives. You know, the ones that don’t play by any rules at all, like better, worse, further, and less. You’ll just have to memorize those because English loves to mess with your head.

For superlatives, you follow the same rules. So, clearest and longest are formed the same way as their comparative siblings. Sure, some style guides are now waving the surrender flag and tolerating more with every comparative, but honestly? That just makes your writing blend into the sea of mediocrity.

I’ve heard a theory that this trend of slapping more in front of everything came from journalists being paid by the word. Hmm... curious. More words, more pay. But personally, I’ll take hearing -ers used well and fewer mores on the nightly news, thank you very much.

Be aware that not all words stand up to comparatives at all. Think about how one could be more pregnant or deader. A little pregnant or sort of dead? Those kinds of words are called absolutes, and the current trend is to go maverick and come up with calling something more unique. That's impossible, you know.

If you want to argue about this, feel free to drop a comment. But I’m pretty sure I’ll be keeping my grammar in check—and I bet I won’t be swayed.

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