Google the phrase “more unique” and you will likely encounter some 74,000,000 incorrect, from my point-of-view, uses of the word unique. Unique is an absolute term. It describes something that has no equal, no peer. Like, “The Earth is unique among the planets we know.”

I always felt completely secure in that point of view. I knew, absolutely, that a description of being unique can’t be compared among nouns. Sort of like pregnant can’t be relative. You are or you ain’t.

Oh yes, I stood my ground, until I checked an online dictionary and found this!

1. existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: a unique copy of an ancient manuscript. (Ok, works for me.)
2. having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint. (Yep. Good.)
3. limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities: Certain types of problems have unique solutions. (I’m nodding righteously. Damned straight.)
4. not typical; unusual: She has a very unique smile. (Say whuuuut?!?!?!)

Even J.D. Salinger and Merriam Webster stand against me – “We were fairly unique, the sixty of us, in that there wasn’t one good mixer in the bunch “— J. D. Salinger.

I concede, though I will forever maintain one can’t be slightly pregnant. Never again will I whine about those dolts who don’t realize you can’t be a little unique. You can. And I am.

Read more:
Grammar police: Comparative adjectives
Grammar Day from grammar police
Grammar police – future conditional

Ontest Grammar Police say: Adjective comparative forms liken two or more things (nouns). There is a right way and there are many wrong ways to form these comparatives. They aren’t up for grabs; the rules are standard.

When writers, reporters, and editors in the media describe a political pundit as as more tall, more friendly, or more smart than another, my hackles rise. There are real rules, not options or guidelines, for forming comparatives, I browsed the The Chicago Manual of Style.

Listen up, journalists, bloggers, and anchors! Grammar Police say these are not options:

• If the adjective has one syllable, ends in e , like blue or cute, just tack on an r. (bluer, cuter)
• If the adjective has one syllable, one vowel, and ends in one consonant, like hot or fat, double the end consonant and add er. (hotter, fatter)
• Adjective has multiple vowels within the word or multiple consonants at the end, but one syllable, add er. (brighter, cleaner, brisker)
• Adjective with two syllables ends in y like crappy, jazzy, or dumpy, change the y to i and smack on an er. (crappier, jazzier)
• Adjective with two or more syllables does not end in y - here it is! NOW you precede the adjective with more but you never add an ending to the word. (more meaningful, more compelling, but never more beautifuller.)

Superlatives, like jazziest or bluest are formed by the same rules, says the University of Victoria in Canada.

Someone theorized that the trend of pairing every comparative with more came from journalists being paid by the word…hmmmm. Paycheck notwithstanding, I’d rather hear more ers and fewer mores on the nightly news.

And Dr. Phil? You could use these rules, too.

What do you think when you hear these inane comparatives with more stuck on the front of a word?  Talk to me.

More Grammar Police resources:

Future Conditional

Passive Voice

Matching Verbs and Nouns

Grammar Day Web Resources:

National Grammar Day

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips

Purdue OWL online writing lab

WebGrammar.com

OnText Grammar Police Grammar Day  resources

Future Conditional

Passive Voice

Matching Verbs and Nouns

Happy grammar day.