Word Confusion: Good, Better, Best

Posted November 6, 2014 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Revised as of
27 June 2023

One is good, two is better, and three is best.

Yep, it’s the good – better – best competition. The judgment is subjective, however the rules are not. Anything can be good. Your choice of any one of TWO items is the better of the two, although that decision may change depending on what you’re in the mood for. I mean, sometimes I want Chinese, and other times I need a pizza.

Of course, there are times that chocolate is my preference which boots this into the three or more category, which means whatever I choose will be the best of them all. At that moment *grin*.

Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.

If you found this post on “Good, Better, Best” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.

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Good	Better	Best
Piece Of Butter by Petr Kratochvil is under the CC0 license, via Public Domain Pictures.net. — Butter. Good.	Fresh-baked Bread by Lolame is under the Pixabay License, via Pixabay. — Even better! Hot bread!	Mmm…Warm Fresh Bread with Butter by Jeffrey W is under the CC-BY 2.0 license, via Flickr. — The best is butter on hot bread from the oven.
Part of Grammar:
Adjective; Adverb; Noun Plural for the noun: goods	Adjective; Adverb; Noun; Verb, transitive Plural for the noun and third person present verb: betters Past tense or past participle: bettered Gerund or present participle: bettering	Adjective; Adverb; Noun; Verb, transitive Third person present verb: bests Past tense or past participle: bested Gerund or present participle: besting
Positive degree A positive degree does not offer a comparison; it is the normal form for an adjective good	Comparative A comparison examines two options, and you can have the better of two options, but you can’t have the best of only two options. good or better better or best ~~good or better or best~~	Superlative A superlative examines the best of three or more options. good or better or best
Adjective: To be desired or approved of Pleasing and welcome Expressing approval Having the qualities required for a particular role Skilled at doing or dealing with a specified thing Useful, advantageous, or beneficial in effect Appropriate to a particular purpose [Of language] With correct grammar and pronunciation Strictly adhering to or fulfilling all the principles of a particular cause, religion, or party Possessing or displaying moral virtue Showing kindness Obedient to rules or conventions Used to address or refer to people, especially in a patronizing or humorous way: Commanding respect Belonging or relating to a high social class Giving pleasure; Enjoyable or satisfying Pleasant to look at Attractive [Of clothes] Smart and suitable for formal wear [Attrib. ] Thorough Used to emphasize that a number is at least as great as one claims Used to emphasize a following adjective Fairly large [Of a ticket] Valid Reliably providing: Sufficient to pay for Used in conjunction with the name of God or a related expression as an exclamation of extreme surprise or anger	Adjective: Use better when comparing with good OR best Of superior quality or excellence Morally superior More virtuous Of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc. Preferable Larger Greater Improved in health Healthier than before Completely recovered in health	Adjective: Superlative of good with better as the comparative Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing Most advantageous, suitable, or desirable Largest Most
Adverb: [Informal] Well	Adverb: Comparison of well with best as the superlative In a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner To a greater degree More completely or thoroughly More More suitably, appropriately, or usefully	Adverb: Superlative of well with better as the comparative Most excellently or suitably With most advantage or success In or to the highest degree Most fully usually used in combination
Noun: That which is morally right Righteousness Benefit or advantage to someone or something [goods] Merchandise or possessions: [British] Things to be transported, as distinct from passengers [Informal; the goods] The genuine article	Noun: That which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser [Usually, betters] Those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.	Noun: Usually the best Something or someone that is best A person’s finest clothing A person’s most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often preceded by at) A person’s highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often preceded by at). The highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often preceded by at) The best effort that a person, group, or thing can make A person’s best wishes or kindest regards
	Verb, transitive: To increase the good qualities of Make better Improve To improve upon Surpass Exceed [Cards] To raise a previous bid	Verb, transitive: [Informal] To get the better of Defeat Beat
Examples:
This brand of butter is good. Adjective: You can have a good quality of life here. Good! The more people the better! We live at peace with each other, which is good. She was pleased to hear good news about him. The play had good reviews. The schools here are good. I’m good at crosswords. He was good with children. Too much sun is not good for you. This is a good month for planting seeds. She speaks good English. I am the eldest of five in a good Catholic family. I’ve met many good people who made me feel ashamed of my own shortcomings. The rich and the good shared the same fate as the poor and the bad. You are good — thank you. One should accustom the child to being rewarded for good behavior. The good people of the city were disconcerted. He was concerned with establishing and maintaining his good name. He comes from a good family. When it’s Summerfest, the streets fill up with people looking for a good time. You’re looking pretty good. He went upstairs to change out of his good suit. Go ahead, have a good look around. The attic needed a good cleaning. They’re a good twenty years younger. We had a good long hug. It’ll be good and dark by then. There’s a good chance that we may be able to help you. It was a good crowd. The ticket is good for travel from May to September. They found him good for a laugh. His money was good for a bottle of whiskey. Good heavens! Adverb: My mother could never cook this good. This technique does seem to work pretty good for me, a little too good sometimes, I think. Now you know I can’t sleep very good in a big bed like that. Noun: It was a mysterious balance of good and evil. He convinces his father to use his genius for the good of mankind. The preservation of old buildings matters because they contribute to the general public good. He is too clever for his own good. We specialize in imports of luxury goods. The market price of an agricultural good changes depending on the weather. It was a means of transporting passengers as well as goods. What do you think is on the goods train? I assure you they are the real goods.	This brand of butter is better than that one. Adjective: This is a better coat than my last one. You’ll have to give a better speech. They are no better than thieves. There’s no better time for action, babe. Ooh, look Mary, this one’s even better! It took the better part of a lifetime to accomplish this. I feel better. Adverb: You behave better than last week, or else. He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else. I walked better than a mile to town. Noun: It was the better of two choices. Hmph, they consider themselves our betters. Verb, transitive: More buses during heavy commuting times would better the lot of the suburban commuter. We have bettered last year’s production record. Marge, can you better that bid?	This brand of butter is the best of them all. Adjective: Do your best work. You are the best students! It’s not the best way. It’ll take the best part of a day to get this done.. Adverb: She needs to find an opera role that best suits her voice. She’s the best-suited for the job. It’s the best-known book of the series. She was the best-loved actress of her time. Noun: They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes. It’s important that you wear your best. Do the best you can. He wasn’t at his best. His woodwork is cabinetmaking at its best. Their best fell far short of excellence. Please give my best to your father. Verb, transitive: He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.
Derivatives:
Adjective: good-for-nothing, goody-goody, good-hearted, good-humored, good-looking, good-natured, good-quality, good-sized, good-tempered, good-time, goodish, goodly, goodlier, goodliest Adverb: good-heartedly, good-humored, good-naturedly, good-temperedly Exclamation: good-by, goodby, goodbye, goody Noun: good-by, good-for-nothing, goody-goody, good-heartedness, good-looker, goodby, goodbye, goodie, goodliness, goodwill, goody	Adjective: bettermost, unbettered Noun: betterment, betters	Noun: bestie, besties,
History of the Word:
Old English gōd is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch goed and the German gut.	It’s first known use was before 900. Middle English bettre, Old English betera. It is related to the Old High German bezziro (German besser), the Dutch beter, the Old Norse betr, and the Gothic batiza.	Its first known use was before 900. Middle English beste, Old English betst, best. It is related to the Dutch best, the Old High German bezzist (German best), the Old Norse bezt, and the Gothic batists.

Good

Better

Best

Piece of butter decorated the old fashion way

Piece Of Butter by Petr Kratochvil is under the CC0 license, via Public Domain Pictures.net.

—

Butter. Good.

Fresh-baked Bread by Lolame is under the Pixabay License, via Pixabay.

—

Even better! Hot bread!

A slice of fresh bread with melting butter

Mmm…Warm Fresh Bread with Butter by Jeffrey W is under the CC-BY 2.0 license, via Flickr.

—

The best is butter on hot bread from the oven.

Part of Grammar:

Adjective; Adverb; Noun

Plural for the noun: goods

Adjective; Adverb; Noun; Verb, transitive

Plural for the noun and third person present verb: betters
Past tense or past participle: bettered
Gerund or present participle: bettering

Adjective; Adverb; Noun; Verb, transitive

Third person present verb: bests
Past tense or past participle: bested
Gerund or present participle: besting

Positive degree

A positive degree does not offer a comparison; it is the normal form for an adjective

good

Comparative

A comparison examines two options, and you can have the better of two options, but you can’t have the best of only two options.

good or better

better or best

~~good or better or best~~

Superlative

A superlative examines the best of three or more options.

good or better or best

Adjective:
To be desired or approved of

Pleasing and welcome
Expressing approval

Having the qualities required for a particular role

Skilled at doing or dealing with a specified thing
Useful, advantageous, or beneficial in effect
Appropriate to a particular purpose
[Of language] With correct grammar and pronunciation
Strictly adhering to or fulfilling all the principles of a particular cause, religion, or party

Possessing or displaying moral virtue

Showing kindness
Obedient to rules or conventions
Used to address or refer to people, especially in a patronizing or humorous way:
Commanding respect
Belonging or relating to a high social class

Giving pleasure;

Enjoyable or satisfying
Pleasant to look at
Attractive
[Of clothes] Smart and suitable for formal wear

[Attrib. ] Thorough

Used to emphasize that a number is at least as great as one claims
Used to emphasize a following adjective
Fairly large

[Of a ticket] Valid

Reliably providing:
Sufficient to pay for

Used in conjunction with the name of God or a related expression as an exclamation of extreme surprise or anger

Adjective:
Use better when comparing with good OR best

Of superior quality or excellence

Morally superior

More virtuous

Of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.

Preferable

Larger

Greater

Improved in health

Healthier than before

Completely recovered in health

Adjective:
Superlative of good with better as the comparative

Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing

Most advantageous, suitable, or desirable

Largest

Most

Adverb:
[Informal] Well

Adverb:
Comparison of well with best as the superlative

In a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner

To a greater degree

More completely or thoroughly

More suitably, appropriately, or usefully

Adverb:
Superlative of well with better as the comparative

Most excellently or suitably

With most advantage or success

In or to the highest degree

Most fully usually used in combination

Noun:
That which is morally right

Righteousness

Benefit or advantage to someone or something
[goods] Merchandise or possessions:

[British] Things to be transported, as distinct from passengers
[Informal; the goods] The genuine article

Noun:
That which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser

[Usually, betters] Those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.

Noun:
Usually the best

Something or someone that is best

A person’s finest clothing

A person’s most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often preceded by at)

A person’s highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often preceded by at).

The highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often preceded by at)

The best effort that a person, group, or thing can make

A person’s best wishes or kindest regards

Verb, transitive:
To increase the good qualities of

Make better

Improve

To improve upon

Surpass
Exceed

[Cards] To raise a previous bid

Verb, transitive:
[Informal] To get the better of

Defeat
Beat

Examples:

This brand of butter is good.

Adjective:
You can have a good quality of life here.

Good! The more people the better!

We live at peace with each other, which is good.

She was pleased to hear good news about him.

The play had good reviews.

The schools here are good.

I’m good at crosswords.

He was good with children.

Too much sun is not good for you.

This is a good month for planting seeds.

She speaks good English.

I am the eldest of five in a good Catholic family.

I’ve met many good people who made me feel ashamed of my own shortcomings.

The rich and the good shared the same fate as the poor and the bad.

You are good — thank you.

One should accustom the child to being rewarded for good behavior.

The good people of the city were disconcerted.

He was concerned with establishing and maintaining his good name.

He comes from a good family.

When it’s Summerfest, the streets fill up with people looking for a good time.

You’re looking pretty good.

He went upstairs to change out of his good suit.

Go ahead, have a good look around.

The attic needed a good cleaning.

They’re a good twenty years younger.

We had a good long hug.

It’ll be good and dark by then.

There’s a good chance that we may be able to help you.

It was a good crowd.

The ticket is good for travel from May to September.

They found him good for a laugh.

His money was good for a bottle of whiskey.

Good heavens!

Adverb:
My mother could never cook this good.

This technique does seem to work pretty good for me, a little too good sometimes, I think.

Now you know I can’t sleep very good in a big bed like that.

Noun:
It was a mysterious balance of good and evil.

He convinces his father to use his genius for the good of mankind.

The preservation of old buildings matters because they contribute to the general public good.

He is too clever for his own good.

We specialize in imports of luxury goods.

The market price of an agricultural good changes depending on the weather.

It was a means of transporting passengers as well as goods.

What do you think is on the goods train?

I assure you they are the real goods.

This brand of butter is better than that one.

Adjective:
This is a better coat than my last one.

You’ll have to give a better speech.

They are no better than thieves.

There’s no better time for action, babe.

Ooh, look Mary, this one’s even better!

It took the better part of a lifetime to accomplish this.

I feel better.

Adverb:
You behave better than last week, or else.

He knows the way better than we do.

I probably know him better than anyone else.

I walked better than a mile to town.

Noun:
It was the better of two choices.

Hmph, they consider themselves our betters.

Verb, transitive:
More buses during heavy commuting times would better the lot of the suburban commuter.

We have bettered last year’s production record.

Marge, can you better that bid?

This brand of butter is the best of them all.

Adjective:
Do your best work.

You are the best students!

It’s not the best way.

It’ll take the best part of a day to get this done..

Adverb:
She needs to find an opera role that best suits her voice.

She’s the best-suited for the job.

It’s the best-known book of the series.

She was the best-loved actress of her time.

Noun:
They always demand and get the best.

The best of us can make mistakes.

It’s important that you wear your best.

Do the best you can.

He wasn’t at his best.

His woodwork is cabinetmaking at its best.

Their best fell far short of excellence.

Please give my best to your father.

Verb, transitive:
He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat.

She bested me in the argument.

Derivatives:

Adjective: good-for-nothing, goody-goody, good-hearted, good-humored, good-looking, good-natured, good-quality, good-sized, good-tempered, good-time, goodish, goodly, goodlier, goodliest
Adverb: good-heartedly, good-humored, good-naturedly, good-temperedly
Exclamation: good-by, goodby, goodbye, goody
Noun: good-by, good-for-nothing, goody-goody, good-heartedness, good-looker, goodby, goodbye, goodie, goodliness, goodwill, goody

Adjective: bettermost, unbettered
Noun: betterment, betters

Noun: bestie, besties,

History of the Word:

Old English gōd is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch goed and the German gut.

It’s first known use was before 900.

Middle English bettre, Old English betera.

It is related to the Old High German bezziro (German besser), the Dutch beter, the Old Norse betr, and the Gothic batiza.

Its first known use was before 900.

Middle English beste, Old English betst, best.

It is related to the Dutch best, the Old High German bezzist (German best), the Old Norse bezt, and the Gothic batists.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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