handsomer or more handsome

Both are fine. "Handsomer" may be less usual; but Dickens uses it, for instance:

"He is gray now, but as handsome as he was a quarter of a century ago--nay,

I come across "handsomer" and "handsomest" in JA novels too.

e.g. ``Yes,'' replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, ``but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.''

The beautifulest girl I've ever seen

paco

Paco! I'm shocked!

Topless pictures? on EF?

0degrees of comparison? handsome or handsomer? I feel more confused than before. are there any rules on this?0-

As far as my knowledge serves me, there is a rule on degrees of comparison. It depends on how many syllables are there. If there are more than 2 syllables, use more, otherwise, just suffix with -er.

So "handsome" can be written as "handsomer".

But "beautiful" cannot be written as "beautifuler".

Hope this helps.

AnonymousAs far as my knowledge serves me, there is a rule on degrees of comparison. It depends on how many syllables are there. If there are more than 2 syllables, use more, otherwise, just suffix with -er.

So "handsome" can be written as "handsomer".

So we say: He just couldn't be deader? (Only one syllable in dead

Not  all adjectives can form degrees of comparison (wooden, left..) and dead is one of them. If a person is dead, he's dead, and he can't be more or less dead

AnonymousNot all adjectives can form degrees of comparison (wooden, left..) and dead is one of them. If a person is dead, he's dead, and he can't be more or less dead

Very true! However, that doesn't prevent some writers from saying someone couldn't be more dead than he is. The written word isn't always in keeping with facts.

CB

Both are acceptable.