More badly

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While not detracting from its practical nature, it must be said that this could hardly miss the point of the book more badly. (John A. Kitchen, Proverbs, A Mentor Commentary, page 30) According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, the comparative of badly is worse. How come more badly is used in the above sentence?

GPY · Accepted Answer

It seems that comparative "worse" may not work, or not work very well, when "badly" means "to a great degree". Another example:

This building was more badly damaged than that one.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

sitifan How come more badly is used in the above sentence?

It is an alternative. Here are other examples;

I think we need legal reform far more badly then we need regulatory reform.
The higher the price-earnings ratio, the more badly investors want to own the stock.
Sometimes, some portions need work more badly than others, road Superintendent Brian Campbell said.
If today's teachers were badly educated, then the students they turn out will be even more badly educated.
Mr Obama, who will be taking office more or less at the moment when the ICC is expected to issue its warrant, needs a new policy even more badly.
Once they admitted they had a problem, they've been looking for ways to do the same things the same ways for less money which always seems to mean doing them more badly.
Some countries, however, could be more badly affected by a mass cash repatriation than others, such as those where the Japanese holdings are a big slice of either the bond or equity markets.

Sitifan · Answer

Don't use 'bad' as an adverb. Don't say, for example, 'They did bad in the elections'. You say 'They did badly in the elections'. I cut myself badly. The room was so badly lit I couldn't see what I was doing. When badly is used like this, its comparative and superlative forms are worse and worst. We played worse than in our previous match. The south of England was the worst affected area. Badly has another different meaning. If you need or want something badly, you need or want it very much. I want this job so badly. We badly need the money. I am badly in need of advice. For this meaning of badly, don't use the comparative and superlative forms 'worse' and 'worst'. Instead you use the forms more badly and most badly. She wanted to see him more badly than ever. Basketball is the sport that most badly needs new players. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/badly

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