Comparative and superlative statements can be a bit tricky, especially when they sound almost the same. Using irregular comparatives and superlatives can be difficult, especially when you're familiar with the -er and -est rules. To use worse and worst properly, follow these guidelines.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Worse Correctly
Step 1. Know the meaning of worse
Worse means having lower quality; less interesting, less fun, etc.; more serious or severe. Worse is another form of bad.
Step 2. Use worse to compare two things
Worse is an example of a comparative adjective. Comparative adjectives are used to compare the properties of the things they describe. Comparative adjectives will be used with two nouns in a sentence, which includes physical objects, concepts, places, and people.
- I think eggplant is worse than boiled cabbage, but that's just my opinion. (I think eggplant is worse than boiled cabbage, but that's just my opinion.)
- That red dress looks worse on you than the white one. (That red dress looks uglier on you than the white dress.)
- Which is worse for your health, smoking or drinking? (Which is worse for your health, smoking or drinking?)
Step 3. Use worse along with than
Since worse is a comparative word, it is usually used with the word than when comparing two nouns. Usually, the sentences follow this pattern:
- Noun + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun.
- Winter weather is worse than summer weather. (Winter weather is worse than summer weather.)
- One of the more complicated uses of worse is when two or more nouns act as a group of nouns.
- The car is worse than the other two you showed me. (That car is uglier than the other two cars you showed me earlier.) In this example, the two objects being compared are a car and two other cars, which function as one object. There are still two things being compared.
Step 4. Use worse to describe something that is getting worse
Even though these situations usually only explain one thing in theory, you are still comparing two things – one state to another. Often, one of these circumstances is implied and not mentioned at all.
- This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. (Things will get much worse before things get better.)
- I think my handwriting is worse [than it was before]. (I think my writing is worse [than before].)
- I am feeling worse [than I was before]. (I feel worse [than before].)
Step 5. Watch out for implied comparisons
In some sentences, the word than is implied. This means that no two objects are compared in the sentence; the second object will be implied.
Bob and Fred are bad drivers, but I think Bob is worse [than Fred]. (Bob and Fred are bad drivers, but I think Bob is worse [than Fred].)
Method 2 of 3: Using Worst Correctly
Step 1. Know the meaning of worst
Worst means worse than all; least helpful or skilled; least desirable or most damaged. Worst is another form of bad.
Step 2. Use worst to denote one thing that is worse than several other things
Worst is a superlative adjective. Superlative adjectives are adjectives used to express the best or the worst in a group of nouns. This superlative adjective is used when comparing three or more things.
- Unlike worse, you can't use worst when comparing only two objects.
- Dirty diapers smell worse than rotten milk, but week-old fish is the worst of all. (Dirty diapers smell worse than stale milk, but fish stored for a week smells worst of all.)
- Math is the worst of all my classes. (Mathematics is my worst subject of all subjects.)
Step 3. Understand the relationship between -er and -est
Worse and worst can be equated with words like colder and coldest.
- Use worse whenever you use the -er word. -er is comparative.
- The weather in Boston is colder than it is in Miami. / The weather in Boston is worse than it is in Miami. (The weather in Boston is colder than the weather in Miami. / The weather in Boston is worse than the weather in Miami.)
- Use worst whenever you use the word -est. -est is a superlative.
- Washington state has the wettest weather in the US. / Washington state has the worst rain in the US. (Washington state has the wettest weather in the US. / Washington state has the worst rain in the US.)
- The increased intensity scale is said to be: bad – worse – worst. Worst is worst and worse is worse than bad.
- The weather in November is bad, but it's worse in December. The worst weather all winter is in January. (The weather in November is bad, but worse in December. The winter weather is worst in January.)
Step 4. Worst is used after the word the
Since worst is used to specify the worst thing, it always follows the word the.
- I disagree. Eggplant and boiled cabbage are both vile, but squash is the worst ! (I disagree. Eggplant and cabbage stew are both awful, but pumpkin is the worst!)
- That is the worst cake I have ever tasted. (It was the worst cake I've ever tried.)
Step 5. Be careful when the comparison is implied
Use worst to compare something to other objects that are implied but not clearly stated.
- Chartreuse is the worst color [of all]. (The light yellowish green (Chartreuse) is the ugliest color [of all the colors].)
- He's the worst person imaginable [in the entire human population]. (He is the worst person [of all the human population].)
Method 3 of 3: Using Worse and Worst in Idioms
Step 1. Say worst case scenario
The phrase worst case scenario refers to a very bad outcome in a situation. Since the end result is so bad, use worst.
The reason people say the worse case scenario is because of the pattern of speech. In many common words, the letter –t is omitted; thus, you hear worse case when the person is actually saying worst case
Step 2. Use worst comes worst or worse comes to worse
Based on modern usage, it's okay to say if worst comes to worst, if worse comes to worse, or if worse comes to worst.
The idiom was first used in 1596 in if the worst come to the worst. This means that the worst case scenario occurs. In 1719, Daniel Defoe wrote in Robinson Crusoe, if the worse came to the worst. The use of this new idiom meant that things were getting worse
Tips
- It helps if you define worse as less good and worst as least good.
- Don't say more worse. It is not necessary.
- Don't confuse worst with worsted, which is a wool fabric with a tough, lint-free surface (worsted yarn weave). For example: He wore a worsted suit.
