3 ms·

I can only bring German school-level English to the table, but my instincts told me that someone played loose with what should be “the most common”.

skyyler 4y ago
Your instincts are incorrect, "commonest" is a valid word and it's being used correctly in the title of this article. I hope this mistake of correcting things that aren't mistakes doesn't become one of the most common mistakes in HN comments...
- ManuelKiessling 4y ago
  I don’t understand your need to be rude after learning that someone is not a native speaker.
  - skyyler 4y ago
    If you aren't a native speaker why did you try to correct the writer of the article? You're allowed to be rude but I am not? I don't want this to be a flame war, I want you to actually reflect on why you think you're allowed to be rude but I am not.
    - ManuelKiessling 4y ago
      I wasn’t rude, I was wrong, and any blame for this is totally accepted. I wasn’t rude, because I wasn’t adressing anyone in particular — I wasn’t writing on qmul.ac.uk or in an email to the author. You were communicating directly with me, and I found it unnecessarily rude. Edit: oh and btw you are totally and absolutely “allowed” to be rude, it’s not something I find off-limits or the likes. Just know that I find it… well, rude.
      - skyyler 4y ago
        Honestly, my apologies. I’m quitting nicotine after ten years of (ab)using it. I should probably stay off the internet for a while. Again, my apologies.
        ManuelKiessling 4y ago
        That’s great news actually and I wish you all the best to get off of it permanently! Honestly, if venting off on the Internets helps you to go through with it — well I’m always here when you need me ;-)
- aksss 4y ago
  “Commonest mistakes” - ftfy I concur with GP. IME, “most common” or “most fun” is generally looked upon as better form than “commonest”, or “funnest”. The latter catches the eye and not in a good way, having as it does the ring of childishness to it. Legal, sure. Proper? Nope.
djmips 4y ago
Even if commonest is a valid word I agree that 'the most common' would read better. English is my first language.

skyyler 4y ago

Your instincts are incorrect, "commonest" is a valid word and it's being used correctly in the title of this article. I hope this mistake of correcting things that aren't mistakes doesn't become one of the most common mistakes in HN comments...

ManuelKiessling 4y ago
I don’t understand your need to be rude after learning that someone is not a native speaker.
- skyyler 4y ago
  If you aren't a native speaker why did you try to correct the writer of the article? You're allowed to be rude but I am not? I don't want this to be a flame war, I want you to actually reflect on why you think you're allowed to be rude but I am not.
  - ManuelKiessling 4y ago
    I wasn’t rude, I was wrong, and any blame for this is totally accepted. I wasn’t rude, because I wasn’t adressing anyone in particular — I wasn’t writing on qmul.ac.uk or in an email to the author. You were communicating directly with me, and I found it unnecessarily rude. Edit: oh and btw you are totally and absolutely “allowed” to be rude, it’s not something I find off-limits or the likes. Just know that I find it… well, rude.
    - skyyler 4y ago
      Honestly, my apologies. I’m quitting nicotine after ten years of (ab)using it. I should probably stay off the internet for a while. Again, my apologies.
      - ManuelKiessling 4y ago
        That’s great news actually and I wish you all the best to get off of it permanently! Honestly, if venting off on the Internets helps you to go through with it — well I’m always here when you need me ;-)
aksss 4y ago
“Commonest mistakes” - ftfy I concur with GP. IME, “most common” or “most fun” is generally looked upon as better form than “commonest”, or “funnest”. The latter catches the eye and not in a good way, having as it does the ring of childishness to it. Legal, sure. Proper? Nope.

djmips 4y ago

Even if commonest is a valid word I agree that 'the most common' would read better. English is my first language.