Bigger means that one thing is larger in size than another, and The biggest mentions the largest in its category, but what if the category includes only two? Some say that “which is greater of the two” is better, but that choice depends on logic rather than grammar. There’s nothing wrong with calling the larger of two similar things “the largest”.
If you want to use an adjective in English, there are several ways that can be done.
One option is to use the adjective in its affirmative form, that is, unmodified and uninflected: “this program is funny.” Or, if you want to indicate an increase in the quality, quantity, or relationship of the adjective, you can use compare form: “this program is more funny.” Or you can, if circumstances permit, take the level of comparison to extreme or superior and use superlative: “this program is funniest.”
This seems like a simple enough problem, but, as often happens when we take a closer look, someone has found a way to make it less simple. For example, there is a question whether one can use superlative the form of an adjective relating to a group of two things (two superlatives!), or whether this usage requires three or more options.
Does the superlative need three options?
This is a problem because in the second half of the 18th century, some grammarians decided that it was not good to use the superlative two; they conclude that one should say that something is better of both, not of the best. The first author to warn against such use (Joseph Priestley) suggested that it was no big deal (“a very forgivable oversight”), but by the late 18th century the idea was was written as a rule, rather than a suggestion. The use of the superlative of two, which was quite common in English at the time, and has been around for over a hundred years, does not seem to matter much, if at all, to these grammarians.
We both burn equally and burn with the same flame: But I am the weakest of the two, and so is my nature.—George Tuberville, Epistle Heroycall by the erudite poet Publius Ouidius Naso, in English1567
Let him have fair skin, good courage, be welcome: and above all, see that he is healthy, markedly marked, and he is light, and has almost durability. tenacious in his work: and to the color of his skin, there is No animal that is black, that is, its legs, tail and mane, the tips of its ears and snout: nor is there any good animal that has full body color, except black and white: but black is the best of the last two named colors.— Christopher Clifford, Riding School1585
Also, when a goat is staked, you choose the best and strongest of the two: (If that goat has two at birth.)— Leonard Mascall, Cattell’s first book1587
Despite its continued and widespread use, and occasional objections from language researchers, banning the superlative of the two is still something the manuals warn against. Ours Dictionary using English refers to this as “a perfect shibboleth, serving no practical function except to separate rule-followers from non-conformers.”
You can, if you wish, refer to something as the best of the pair, not of better, and have peace of mind knowing that the only rules you’re breaking are usage rules (read: opinions) and not grammar rules (structure of the language). Keep in mind that using this is quite likely to annoy some of your audience, but it doesn’t hurt to use the option that you think is most appropriate.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
