Betterer

/ˈbɛtərər/ adjective

Definition

A non-standard or archaic double comparative form meaning 'more better,' though this usage is generally considered grammatically incorrect in modern English.

Etymology

From 'better' (already comparative of 'good') plus the comparative suffix '-er,' creating a redundant form. This was more acceptable in Middle and Early Modern English but is now considered a mistake.

Kelly Says

Betterer is a linguistic 'crime' that shows how our brains naturally want to follow patterns—even though 'better' is already a comparative, English learners instinctively want to add '-er' because that's how comparatives normally work, revealing the rules our brains use to generate language.

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