A popular Saying?

Question

im writing a paper and im confused about this saying. Heres my sentence....is it.... It can change for the worse in a matter of seconds or It can change for the worst in a matter of seconds. is it worse or worst?

Answer 1

Worst would be grammtically correct in that sentence. Worse doesn't fit.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, your sentence is artless. It's a permutation of the expression "change for the better," which uses the comparative, and not the superlative "best," although it could, conceivably (esp. in business writing, where it's a free-for-all). I would need more context to give you a better sentence, but "change for the worse," using the comparative, would probably be closest to the original.

High school: nobody will notice. University: find a different way to say what you're trying to say.

Answer 3

Worse.

Answer 4

Worse. Think: you don't say, "a change for the best" but "a change for the better".

Answer 5

"It could change for the worst in a matter of seconds."

Answer 6

worse is the correct word. you would use the other in-- the worst that could happen--- etc.

Answer 7

It can change for the worse, here's a few places where they use it:

http://goliath.ecnext.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2750&item_id=0199-12356

http://www.seancoon.org/2006/03/the_internet_is_about_to_change_for_the_worse.html

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/31/Bucs/Change_for_the_worse_.shtml

Answer 8

SO? What do the experts say?

http://www.painintheenglish.com/post.php?id=338

Have a look. What is the worst that could happen, eh?

Answer 9

change for the worse.

Answer 10

"worse" is what sounds correct to me, but I'm not an English major.