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In American English what is the difference between worst and worse?

I think worst is crude, and worse is proper.

Perhaps I missed that day in my English Class way back in the 1970's.

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    "Worse" is a form that is used in comparing one thing to another, in a comparison of ONLY TWO THINGS, to say the one thing is inferior to the other.

    "Worst" is the form that is used when MORE THAN TWO THINGS are being compared, to say that one specific thing is the most inferior of all the items in the category. It could be the worst of three items or the worst of a thousand or more items. Do not use "worst" unless at least three things are bring compared.

    A is worse than B but of A, B, C, D, and E, C is clearly the worst.

  • 1 decade ago

    Amy is a worse cook than Paul, but Jill is the worst of them all.

    Can't remember the proper term, but "worse" is for comparing two things. "Worst" compares to three or more.

  • 1 decade ago

    They're just used differently:

    ex. That hurricane was worse than the last one, but I bet the worst is yet to come.

  • 1 decade ago

    Ahaha... I do not know how to explain... But if accordingly,this is how it goes... Worse follow by Worst... For example, Eating expired food is WORSE than eating burgers... Eating poo(lol did I said for example?) is the worst experience he had in his entire life...

  • 1 decade ago

    Worse is comparative while worst is in the superlative level.

  • kayti
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    worst is as bad as it can get... there isn't anything better.

    Worse just means it isn't as good.

    "there is nothing worse than the worst

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