fly plaid?

[kiltedsawyer]

I just have to ask as this is the second time in a very short period that I have seen this word. When did "commonest" become a word? Should it not be "most common?" Is this one of those "two countries divided by a common language" things?

Cheers,

David

[figheadair]

I just have to ask as this is the second time in a very short period that I have seen this word. When did "commonest" become a word? Should it not be "most common?" Is this one of those "two countries divided by a common language" things?

Cheers,

David

You're probably right. Given Scotty Thompson was not in the first flush of youth when he wrote the book it's obviously not one of those dreadful modernisms, for example, the use of impact in place of affect.

[Highland Logan]

I just have to ask as this is the second time in a very short period that I have seen this word. When did "commonest" become a word? Should it not be "most common?" Is this one of those "two countries divided by a common language" things?

Cheers,

David

https://ell.stackexchange.com/questi...-the-commonest

Interesting read on that

[Cardinal]

https://ell.stackexchange.com/questi...-the-commonest

Interesting read on that

So we should join together to prevent "commonest" infiltration of our language.

[Baeau]

So we should join together to prevent "commonest" infiltration of our language.

I will not comment, for fear of violating Rule 5.

[Pleater]

I think it is to differentiate the use of the word.
Common can be derogatory so possibly the use of commonest is to move the meaning towards frequent - as in 'the commonest description was his behaving like a common little oik'.

Anne the Pleater

[Tarheel]

I think it is to differentiate the use of the word.
Common can be derogatory so possibly the use of commonest is to move the meaning towards frequent - as in 'the commonest description was his behaving like a common little oik'.

Anne the Pleater

How true and bravo Anne for the perspective.