Big bigger biggest

susiecb I'm not sure quite what you're asking. What sort of things do the presenters describe as biggest, but you think should perhaps be largest?

What is the difference between big and large? That is a genuine question (i.e. not intended to be sarcastic). I don't think there is any difference but I'm happy to be educated on the subject should anyone be willing to enlighten me.

Went to clean my teeth and realised that I may have misunderstood your post, susie. Are you asking if the superlative of big is largest? If that is the question, the answer is no. Sorry if I'm barking up the wrong tree. Put it down to teeth-cleaning musings.

I actually looked this up on Google (!) and it seems just contextual. Examples given made me laugh! One woman said she could not imagine saying "Hello, large boy" and someone else said clothes do not come in small, medium, big, extra big etc.

I don't think there's any substantial difference in meaning between big and large. It's just that the former probably comes from Norse and the latter from French.

Just to confuse things a bit more - in French, big and large are both 'grand' and wide and broad are both 'large'.

That very silly Sarah Ferguson said Prince Andrew was her 'bestest' friend.
I have had several people say 'more bigger'.....
Pedants of the world unite!

I wondered if there might be an element of doubt about the use of superlatives in general?

I am fed up of hearing things like 'Which of the two is biggest?' or 'I have two sons and Mike is the youngest' etc.

I agree that big and large are pretty well synonymous but the use would depend on the context.

What I object to is the use of 'big up' which apparently means to exaggerate.

Someone will correct me if I've misremembered this, but I've a feeling Jane Austen is "guilty" of using youngest when she was only talking about two people. Does anyone else remember noticing this? If she didn't then I puzzled as to why I am thinking this.

Suggestions on a postcard, please.

Oh dear not making myself clear again am I? Its mainly on the property programmes. Presenters often say ' this is the biggest room' or ' this is the biggest house we have shown you' and it just sounds wrong. I would probably say ' the largest room or the largest house' but perhaps you think I am wrong. I remembered of our teachers of English Language at school correcting us for the use of biggest but it was a very long time ago so I may not be recalling this correctly. I shout 'largest' at the TV and my husband tuts - he thinks its doesn't matter. Thank you for thinking about it with me

I don't think either is wrong, susie. I suppose it's just a matter of what you're used to or what you prefer.

I'm with you, susie, there are definitely contexts in which 'largest' sounds more appropriate than 'biggest'.

Nothing at all wrong with biggest, or bigger or big, in the right context.
Yes, it should be the younger of two, but I think most of us may have referred to our youngest child (of two) - at least the meaning is clear.
Some strictly correct forms actually sound wrong to me - 'It is I' for example. I think I would always say 'It's me', although I know full well that the verb 'to be' takes a nominative complement. My goodness, how those phrases learned nearly 60 year ago stay in your mind.
On the other hand, 'I got it' is quite correct but sounds clumsy to me - well, at least it is not 'gotten'.
I enjoy the niceties of grammar - I use to love parsing and analysing a sentence - now I have seen teachers on quiz shows who didn't know an adverb from a pronoun.

I like parsnips too, particularly in a stew.

jeni,

No, roasted!

Yeah. I love them roasted too. And carrots. And beetroot. Once I ate quite a large helping of roasted beetroot but forgot and was slightly alarmed by the red pee later. Just about to make a GP appointment when I remembered.

Beetroots, carrots and parsnips make great crisps too – much sweeter and more flavoursome than potato crisps.

Oh yes. Must go and check on steak and kidney in oven
Dieting is definitely off!

I have just done some extremely naughty comfort eating. McCain's spicy wedges with mayonnaise and a small tin of tiny peas and baby carrots, with a blob of Omega 3 spread. My target weight was 10 st. 7 lbs. and as I am now just 10 stone I decided to eat something I would really enjoy. And I did. And had a glass of wine. I feel much better.

Greatnan . Cheers!

One thing is certain parsnips and beetroot are the work of the devil!

and if they weren't nasty enough he invented horseradish and mustard to go with them . Now every restaurant I go in has all these all over the menu!