Deciphering ‘Funner’ and ‘Funnest’: A Linguistic Journey
English is a language teeming with interesting quirks, unexpected rules, and delightful surprises. Among these eccentricities are the words ‘funner’ and ‘funnest’. A common question that often surfaces is: ‘is funner a word?’. This post aims to unravel these linguistic curiosities and guide you on how to use them correctly.
Is Funner a Word?
The controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the word ‘funner’ is a contentious debate in English grammar. However, here’s the verdict: Yes, ‘funner’ is a word and is gradually gaining acceptance in regular English. As language evolves, words that were once deemed incorrect may infiltrate common usage and ‘funner’ is a perfect example of this.
Traditionally, ‘fun’ was only recognized as a noun, meaning that it couldn’t be transformed with the addition of ‘er’ or ‘est’. But in contemporary English, ‘fun’ has burgeoned into an adjective, allowing for grading just like ‘bigger’ or ‘coolest’.
How To Use ‘Funner’ and ‘Funnest’
The usage of ‘funner’ and ‘funnest’ follows the standard rules of forming comparative and superlative adjectives. If you ascribe to the belief that ‘fun’ is an adjective, then ‘funner’ becomes its comparative form, and ‘funnest’ becomes its superlative.
Example: “That was the funnest party I’ve attended this year.”
“This game is even funner than I expected.”
However, if you lean toward the more traditional approach, implying that ‘fun’ still holds its post only as a noun, then ‘more fun’ and ‘most fun’ would be the appropriate comparisons.
Example: “It was the most fun I’ve ever had at a concert.”
“Playing outdoors is more fun than spending time indoors.”
Both usages are essentially conveying the same message; it just depends on your perspective on the word ‘fun’.
‘Funner’ or ‘More Fun’? ‘Funnest’ or ‘Most Fun’?
In layman terms, ‘funner’ and ‘funnest’ are simply more colloquial forms of ‘more fun’ and ‘most fun’. They make the language sound less formal, and more conversational. However, you need to be cautious with your audience and setting. While ‘funner’ and ‘funnest’ may slide unnoticed in a casual conversation or a text message, they may not be suitable in academic or professional writing. Stick to ‘more fun’ or ‘most fun’ when aiming for a formal tone.
Final Thoughts
The debate over ‘funner’ and ‘funnest’ brings to light the fascinating flexibility of the English language and its constant evolution. As language learners, be open to these changes but also be conscious of when and where to use certain forms. Remember, effective communication often comes down to understanding your audience and using the appropriate language for the situation.
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