Superlative for Two

0I can't refer you to any such authority because I disagree with it. With two, you would say "prettier."0-

0 01blockquote

01cite10Anonymous12cite10When can I say, "She's the prettiest of the TWO."?12br
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10Can anyone refer me to any authority that says it's okay to use the superlative form of adjectives when only 2 entities are discussed?12br
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10She's the 01b00prettier 0

0 01blockquote

01cite10Anonymous12cite10When can I say, "She's the prettiest of the TWO."?12br
12br
10Can anyone refer me to any authority that says it's okay to use the superlative form of adjectives when only 2 entities are discussed?12br
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10 01b01font001

0 Hi,02br
00here's your "authority": 01a05000 02a02br
00It's taken from "The Columbia Guide to Standard American English". Basically, superlatives for two objects are ok as long as you don't use them in formal or kinda formal contexts. Kinda 0510230hrefhttp://www.bartleby.com/68/43/5843.html11

0>When can I say, "She's the prettiest of the TWO."?02br
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00 Never. 02br
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00Or you risk starting another Trojan War050010id1

0 01blockquote

01cite10Kooyeen12cite10Hi,12br
10here's your "authority": 11a15010 12a12br
10It's taken from "The Columbia Guide to Standard American English". Basically, superlatives for two objects are ok as long as you don't use them in formal or kinda formal

0 01blockquote

01cite10Marius Hancu12cite10>When can I say, "She's the prettiest of the TWO."?12br
12br
10Never. 12br
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10Or you risk starting another Trojan War15012br
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10Actually, in that case they were three 051010id111id1

0 Looks like many of us here weren't too aware of this alternative, including our moderators and guru contributors. Good to know that opinions can differ. 0-

0Well, here's the thing. When good authorities, such as Bartleby, say it's often frowned on, and experienced readers and writers of English like you have here say "Oh, don't do that!" ... If you then decide it's an equally viable alternative to what is generally considered correct, you will risk being considered incorrect by everyone who has not read this excerpt from About.com. Consider whether

0 01blockquote

01cite10Grammar Geek12cite10Well, here's the thing. When good authorities, such as Bartleby, say it's often frowned on, and experienced readers and writers of English like you have here say "Oh, don't do that!" ... If you then decide it's an equally viable alternative to what is generally considered correct, you will risk being considere