Best and better

Question

Is there a difference between better and best and the extra words added?

I thought it best to do that.

I thought it better to do that.

I thought it would be best to do that.

I thought it would be better to do that.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

I don't think most people notice any real difference.

CB

Regards · Answer

Hi,

Actually, there is a difference. Also, the first two sentences can carry different meanings, and I've reworded

them although you may want to leave them as it is.

I thought it was best to do that.

I thought it was better to do this than to do that.

Regarding the two other sentences, I'd say you should ask what the difference between the

superlative of good best, and the comparative of good better is. Better suggests something which

is of a higher quality, favorable or more effective than other thing. For example: This idea is better

than the other one suggested by Ray. It means that this idea appears as more advantageous than

Ray's idea. This is a comparison made between this idea and Ray's idea. For this reason, better is

called a comparative of good. When you use the word better, you're actually making a comparison

between two things, whereas one seems to be more favorable than the other one. However, the

word best automatically offers the most productive or advantageous thing of all others.

For example:This was the best thing to do. This means that what we did was of the greatest advantage

we could ever think of. In fact, you can say that this was the most appropriate thing to do at that time.

Regards

BarbaraPA · Answer

I thought it best is fine. See this:

Regards · Answer

Hi,

In fact, I meant that it would have been better if he had written was before better and best

to avoid duplicate meanings, i.e., I thought it would be best / I thought it was best.

I assume that this was his intended meaning. If it wasn't, he is always at liberty to explain his thoughts again.

Regards

JohnParis · Answer

All the original sentences are fine.

Was best, best - you hear both all the time.

John

Anonymous · Answer

As I know, "Better" is used only for comparing between 2 things. But, "best" is used for comparision between 3 or more things.

Best and better

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