http://www.englishforums.com/English/LinguisticsDiscussionForum/Forum35.htmGet into the nitty-gritty of the language.enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#809183Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:16:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:809183Yoong Liat0http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#809183http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-809183.xmlIs there such a thing as a perfect circle? No. A circle is a circle. It cannot be more or less perfect.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#808835Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:12:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:808835Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#808835http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-808835.xmlIs there such a thing as a perfect circle?http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#807355Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:05:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:807355MrPedantic2http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#807355http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-807355.xmlI wonder myself whether "perfect" itself has any meaning, except as an agreeable fiction. MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#807239Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:22:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:807239Forbes3http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#807239http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-807239.xmlI quote from Good and Bad English by Wilfred Whitten and Frank Whitaker (published 1938) and bought in a second-hand bookshop many years ago for 4p: LOGIC NOTWITHSTANDING ARE THERE DEGREES OF PERFECTION? Many people worry about the little illogicalities that abound in accepted English . One of their favourite contentions is that the absolute can have no degrees, and therefore such expressions as "truer," "more correct," "very sincerely," "utmost limit," "more correct," "very best" are wrong. One of these sticklers wrote to me: "There are no grades of truth." Not, perhaps, in the sight of heaven, but in the world as it is we are compelled to admit degrees of truth....http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806833Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:48:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806833Anonymous4http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806833http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806833.xmlIn what way?http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806554Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:34:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806554Clive5http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806554http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806554.xmlHi, Would you like to comment on some of the examples given earlier in the thread, and on the fact that this phrase forms part of the US Constitution? Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806539Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:25:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806539Anonymous6http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806539http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806539.xmlYou can't use "more perfect".It can be either "better than..." or "perfect".http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806522Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:59:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806522Yankee7http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806522http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806522.xmlI'm happy for you, Anon.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806230Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:51:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806230Anonymous8http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/2/jklnz/Post.htm#806230http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806230.xmlHi YL The weather could have been more perfect Did you accidently omit the word "not" in that sentence? " The weather could not have been more perfect " would be a typical sort of sentence. But "the weather could have been more perfect" has meaning.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#806114Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:58:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806114Yoong Liat9http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#806114http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806114.xmlHi YL The weather could have been more perfect Did you accidently omit the word "not" in that sentence? " The weather could not have been more perfect " would be a typical sort of sentence. Hi Amy Yes, you're right. Another careless mistake of mine. The sentence should be " The weather could n't have been more perfect. " Thanks for pointing out the error.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#806002Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:25:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:806002Yankee10http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#806002http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-806002.xmlHi YL The weather could have been more perfect Did you accidently omit the word "not" in that sentence? " The weather could not have been more perfect " would be a typical sort of sentence.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805962Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:48:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:805962Yoong Liat11http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805962http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-805962.xmlFurther discussion of the same subject, for interest: http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179/m/260103291 MrP I would like to produce further comments from 'The Right Word at the Right Time'. When 'perfect' is used more loosely to mean 'excellent', the use of such words as 'more', 'so' and 'most' is acceptable: The weather could have been more perfect; That is one of the most perfect specimens I've seen . EDIT: The American Constitution speaks of forming 'a more perfect union' among the people of the various states.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805775Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:37:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:805775Yoong Liat12http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805775http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-805775.xmlFurther discussion of the same subject, for interest: http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179/m/260103291 MrP I would like to produce further comments from 'The Right Word at the Right Time'. When 'perfect' is used more loosely to mean 'excellent', the use of such words as 'more', 'so' and 'most' is acceptable: The weather could have been more perfect; That is one of the most perfect specimens I've seen . The American Consitution speaks of forming 'a more perfect union' among the people of the various states.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805101Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:59:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:805101MrPedantic13http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805101http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-805101.xmlFurther discussion of the same subject, for interest: http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/340600179/m/260103291 MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805057Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:24:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:805057Anonymous14http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805057http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-805057.xmlSomeone should rewrite it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805013Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:52:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:805013CalifJim15http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#805013http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-805013.xmlIs it possible to use "more perfect" when describing an absolute state? No. Not unless you're writing the U.S. Constitution. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#804688Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:03:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:804688Yoong Liat16http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htm#804688http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-804688.xmlPurists point out that anything that is perfect, in the sense 'flawless, complete in all respects', must be absolutely so, and that it is therefore incorrect to use qualifying words such as more ,most, so, and very. (The Right Word at the Right Time)http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htmFri, 03 Jul 2009 08:58:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:804224Anonymous17http://www.englishforums.com/English/MorePerfect/jklnz/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-804224.xmlIs it possible to use "more perfect" when describing an absolute state?