Easier vs more easy vs more easier (2025)

Hello

This job is

a- easier

b- more easy

c- more easier

What I know is that English favors economy, so I would go for a. But are b and c downright wrong?

Thank you

Thank you

So, we should never use more with -er adjectives? Is it a rule?

And could you please tell me your source?

No, you shouldn't.

As for the rest of your questions, there is no such ting as a rule when it comes to learning a language. In English, only usage is truly authoritative. When you say something's wrong, it means that only an insignificant fraction of speakers use it. As it's been pointed out many times, justifying usage with rules is putting the cart before the horse. There is only usage and advice derived from usage. Advice and observation combine to form a grammar rule, which tries to generalize usage in a way that is easy to understand and memorize.

A rule like this says that the comparative of an adjective is formed either using adjective + -er or more + adjective. There is no clear rule explaining when to use which (there are a lot of exceptions to the rule you might find in an ESL textbook). The rule I've just mentioned implies that more and -er cannot be used at the same time. We could go down a different path and justify not using both with redundancy but that would still be beside the point.

[cross-posted]

SReynolds said:

Both b and c are wrong, however, c is sometimes used accidentally when someone wants to say an adjective with more but decides to use one which takes -er. Stressing would make this clear, though.

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b - "more easy" is not wrong. Whilst "easier" is by far the more usual form, "more easy" is a valid variant.

Andygc said:

b - "more easy" is not wrong. Whilst "easier" is by far the more usual form, "more easy" is a valid variant.

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Have you got an example of that, though? I'm struggling a bit to envisage a context in which it would sound natural.

Not true! Take hardy, for example. And more easy is also possible, as Andygc says.

However, you are more right than wrong.

Thank you all for your responses.

So, to sum up:

"easier" is the usual form used
"more easy" can be used but not preferable
"more easier" is quite unacceptable and considered as exaggeration

Can any native speaker confirm that, please?

Thank you Andy.

I'm sorry I can't see the emoticon next to the last point. Is it a "thumbs up"?

emanko said:

Thank you Andy.

I'm sorry I can't see the emoticon next to the last point. Is it a "thumbs up"?

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It is - have a tick instead