Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and I’m starting today’s episode with a quiz. Is “funner” a word? [timer] I have bad news – at least, it feels like bad news to me. Funner is a word, according to Merriam-Webster.
Here’s the logic. Adjectives of one syllable are usually modified with “er” and “est,” while adjectives of two syllables are usually modified with “more” and “most.” Since “fun” was originally only used as a verb and a noun, people aren’t used to hearing “funner.” But technically, in a horrible way, it’s actually more correct than “more fun.” Don’t take this as permission to use it, though – most people consider it wrong.
Other words that shouldn’t exist but are acknowledged by Merriam Webster include “worser,” “irregardless” “anyways,” “legit,” and “ain’t.”
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