Editing Comparison-Contrast Essays
After making the large-scale improvements of revision, you can focus on specific words and punctuation marks. The following activities will help you correctly use comparative and superlative modifiers and punctuate compound sentences. You'll also find a checklist to help you catch any errors in punctuation, capitalization, spelling, usage, and grammar.
Editing Comparatives and Superlatives
Modifiers have special forms that help you compare topics. A comparative adjective can show which of two topics is bigger, faster, less messy, or more cost-effective. A superlative adjective can show which of three or more topics is biggest, fastest, least messy, or most cost-effective. Add er to most one-syllable words to make the comparative form, and add est to make the superlative form.
Most One-Syllable Adjectives
Positive
deep
old
strange
Comparative
deeper
older
stranger
Superlative
deepest
oldest
strangest
For most adjectives of two syllables or more, add more or less for comparative forms and most or least for superlative forms. (Note that some two-syllable adjectives can still take er and est.)