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Originally Posted by strandinthewind
I am confused, if I am comparing the severity of W's actions Clinton's actions, wouldn't I use the comparative of severe in that context. I am asking, not being snarky  |
No, you are right, it's a perfectly legitimate use of the word "severer". But I would have been given a slap on the wrist and a verbal lecture by my English teacher in school (wayyyyy back
) if I had used it in that way.
There's nothing really technically wrong with it. It just doesn't sit very well in that context. I think it's just the way the English language is used in modern society. It's acceptable but the chaps at Oxford and Cambridge might wince a little.
I remember reading a while back that there are over 400 versions of the English language and a third of them originate in the United States. So you could call "American" a collection of diversified English.
