Why you're not stupider than a fifth grader
June 18th 2010 03:06
One can be smarter than a fifth grader, but not stupider than one. That's because stupider isn't considered proper English, even if sources such as Compact Oxford Dictionary contain the word (though my online dictionary of choice, Merriam-Webster, does not). Then again, the editors at Scientific American use the word in the title of this article, which I admit wouldn't sound as catchy if it had read, "Will the Internet make us more stupid?" Or maybe they were just being ironic.
Whether or not you think stupider sounds awkward, it might seem inconsistent to say that stupider--the comparative form of stupid--is not a word, especially when the superlative form is so commonly used, e.g., "That's the stupidest movie I've ever seen!" In this case, however, stupidest is not considered proper English either. The correct forms are more stupid and most stupid.
Before continuing, let's go over the degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative:
For example, the adjective hot (which is uninflected, i.e., it has no comparative degree) has the comparative form hotter and the superlative form hottest.
When using the comparative inflection, follow these guidelines:
When to use "-er" and "-est" suffixes
Note that you don't simply tack on the suffix at the end of every word. Sometimes the final consonant is doubled (as in redder and reddest), and you must change the y in a two-syllable word to an i.
Also, there are exceptions to the two-syllable word rule. For example, consider two-syllable words that end with w. The dictionaries I consulted accept the comparative and superlative forms of mellow, narrow, and shallow, but not callow. In addition, some comparative and superlative forms of two-syllable words that end with ple, tle, and dle are accepted (e.g., simple, gentle, brittle, idle).
When you must use "more --" and "most ---"
Be careful with "more" and "most"--you can only use these terms with an uninflected adjective. In other words, masala dal might be the most spicy food you can eat, but it's not the most spiciest food you eat. As well, some adjectives just don't have degrees of comparison, such as unique, perfect, and favourite. It is illogical to say that someone is more unique or a day was more perfect, or that you have a most favourite song.
As usual when it comes to English grammar, there is a handful of oddities and exceptions. Some adjectives are irregular, such as good (better, best). The word beatifullest isn't accepted outside of poetry, and for some reason one can get away with saying handsomest. But my favourite example of an incorrect comparative is from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:
Image courtesy of Veer photography
Whether or not you think stupider sounds awkward, it might seem inconsistent to say that stupider--the comparative form of stupid--is not a word, especially when the superlative form is so commonly used, e.g., "That's the stupidest movie I've ever seen!" In this case, however, stupidest is not considered proper English either. The correct forms are more stupid and most stupid.
Before continuing, let's go over the degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative:
- A comparative adjective expresses a greater quality, quantity, or intensity.
- A superlative adjective expresses the greatest quality, quantity, or intensity.
When using the comparative inflection, follow these guidelines:
When to use "-er" and "-est" suffixes
- Single-syllable words (fast: faster, fastest; large: larger, largest; red: redder, reddest)
- Two-syllable words that end with y (merry: merrier, merriest; sexy: sexier, sexiest; rowdy: rowdier, rowdiest)
Note that you don't simply tack on the suffix at the end of every word. Sometimes the final consonant is doubled (as in redder and reddest), and you must change the y in a two-syllable word to an i.
Also, there are exceptions to the two-syllable word rule. For example, consider two-syllable words that end with w. The dictionaries I consulted accept the comparative and superlative forms of mellow, narrow, and shallow, but not callow. In addition, some comparative and superlative forms of two-syllable words that end with ple, tle, and dle are accepted (e.g., simple, gentle, brittle, idle).
When you must use "more --" and "most ---"
- Two-syllable words that do not end with y (adroit: more adroit, most adroit; obtuse, more obtuse, most obtuse; upset: more upset, most upset)
- Words with more than two syllables (beautiful: more beautiful, most beautiful; melancholy: more melancholy, most melancholy; technical: more technical, most technical)
Be careful with "more" and "most"--you can only use these terms with an uninflected adjective. In other words, masala dal might be the most spicy food you can eat, but it's not the most spiciest food you eat. As well, some adjectives just don't have degrees of comparison, such as unique, perfect, and favourite. It is illogical to say that someone is more unique or a day was more perfect, or that you have a most favourite song.
As usual when it comes to English grammar, there is a handful of oddities and exceptions. Some adjectives are irregular, such as good (better, best). The word beatifullest isn't accepted outside of poetry, and for some reason one can get away with saying handsomest. But my favourite example of an incorrect comparative is from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:
"Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).
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