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New Scientist 2 Nov 02 p.5 Editorial
"Pumping in gas may well have been the least worst option available to the
Russian authorities......"
Surely the Editor of a British magazine should do better than that. I'm not quite sure how to
name the mistakes involved. Worst is a superlative, though a negative one, and so shouldn't
be compared.
How would you have said it?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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We talk about the lesser of two evils.
How would we speak of three evils? The least of three evils?
And, if the least of three evils, why not the least worst of three evils?
Edit: And, if the least worst of three evils, why not the least worst option? I don't have a problem with the least worst option.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear WW: You just qualified for a remedial course in fundamental English. Superlatives
cannot be modified, I think is the term. Nonthing is bigger than the biggest, or smaller
than the smallest. Unless your a goddam philosopher trickster.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yeah, I see your point.
And I'll admit I erred here.
You can have something that is the worst, but you can't have three equivalent things that each qualify as the worst.
Sorry. I got caught up in my knots of my own making.
Lesser of two evils.
Least of three evils.
But not "least worst" of three evils.
I'm straight again.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear WW: you're something special.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Unless your a goddam philosopher trickster.
Or an ad agency copywriter.
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old hand
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old hand
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Well, if they're talking about options that are available, and they're all bad (worst), wouldn't it follow that the least of those bad options is the best?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear JazzO:"they're all bad (worst)," There can be only one worst.
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