Linked Questions
23 questions linked to/from Are the rules regarding absolute adjectives too absolute?
6
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2
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Is "more optimal" correct grammar? [duplicate]
As a math and computer-science person, I use the phrase "more optimal" quite often, such as "This algorithm gives more optimal results." However, I was recently corrected, and told that "more optimal"...
2
votes
1
answer
28k
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Very great or great? [duplicate]
Is it correct to say 'a very great refrigerator'. Isn't just 'a great refrigerator' enough? Should we use 'very' before 'great' as in a very great man, or is it 'a great man'. Why? Thanks.
sundaresh
3
votes
5
answers
7k
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Can something be more unique than something else? Can something be very unique? [duplicate]
Family debate - one says that uniqueness is relative, others say something either is or is not unique. Does uniqueness mean that there is only one of a certain thing/person, so that it would mean more ...
- 149
0
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2
answers
12k
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Is "quite unique" correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are the rules regarding absolute modifiers too absolute?
Reading the sentence below, written on The Telegraph, it can notice the phrase quite unique.
I never imagined a ...
user19148
0
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0
answers
8k
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Comparative and superlative of perfect? [duplicate]
I have seen people saying it is a bad use of grammar when someone says 'more perfect' or 'most perfect', since something that is perfect can't be better if you look at it literally.
However, we do ...
- 971
2
votes
2
answers
1k
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Can something be *slightly* critical? [duplicate]
I overheard someone at work describing a task as "quite critical", and then describe another task as (direct quote) "über critical". Forgetting for a minute the colloquial nature of the conversation, ...
- 123
0
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0
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4k
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Is it ok to write "very huge" in this context? [duplicate]
I think it is ok to write "very huge" in a context like this (although "very" is a bit redundant here):
This is a very huge map.
However, the following sounds strange to me:
This map is very ...
- 101
1
vote
3
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1k
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"very dead, extremely dead" [duplicate]
As far as I know, dead as an adjective is simply the opposite of alive, or living.
Which means that there is no element of level when describing a dead person.
And yet I came across this phrases very ...
- 61
0
votes
1
answer
529
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Use of "unique" [duplicate]
UNIQUE should not have a qualifier? Does it not mean "one of a kind" and thus it is incorrect to say, for example, "more unique'? One sees this misuse in advertising frequently. Is it now acceptable ...
0
votes
0
answers
33
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Why are some adjectives noncomaparable? [duplicate]
As far as I was taught and read in various places (examples: 1, 2), some adjectives in English are not comparable, which is that they don't have comparative and superlative forms. Why is that? I think ...
- 139
15
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3
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17k
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Is "very crucial" redundant?
This came up as a multiple-choice question in an exam. Is using "very crucial" redundant?. . . or tautology?
- 331
2
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3
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18k
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What's wrong with these sentences? [duplicate]
My workplace has presented me with the opportunity this month to attend a "grammar" webinar that is suppose to help me enhance my grammar skills. I thought they were good already...
I don't have time ...
- 327
3
votes
7
answers
31k
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Is "most superior" correct?
I am reviewing an article, and the author uses the phrase
... this algorithm achieves the most superior fairness ...
Initially I thought the phrase is not correct, just like saying that ...
- 156
12
votes
3
answers
14k
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Why are things often "very tasty", but rarely "very delicious"
When I saw this ELL question it struck me that very delicious didn't sound vary "natural" to me.
Checking Google NGrams, I find that relatively speaking, toothsome food is five times more likely to ...
- 142k
4
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6
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4k
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"More perfect" versus "less imperfect"
"More perfect" is presumably bad English (Preamble to the US
Constitution notwithstanding), since something is either perfect (and
thus can't be improved) or not.
"Less imperfect", however, seems ...
user3065