LanguageTool Community
Imprint · Privacy Policy
<< return to list of rules

Rule "'least' before comparative or superlative"

This is one of many errors that LanguageTool can detect.

Description: 'least' before comparative or superlative
Message: Non-standard use of the comparative or superlative. Did you mean <suggestion>\1 \2</suggestion>?
Category: Grammar (ID: GRAMMAR)
Link: https://languagetool.org/insights/post/less-vs-least-grammar/#when-to-use-%E2%80%9Cleast%E2%80%9D
Incorrect sentences
that this rule can detect:
  • This is the least harder task.
    Correction suggestion: least hard
  • This is the least hardest.
    Correction suggestion: least hard
Correct sentences
for comparison:
  • This is the least hard task.
  • This is at least harder than the trivial task.
  • ...empty set of real numbers with an upper bound has a least upper bound.
  • The least number.
ID: LEAST_COMPARATIVE [1]
Version: 6.6-SNAPSHOT (2024-11-25 22:33:08 +0100)