gooder

Gooder is a non-standard or dialectal form of the superlative of "good." In standard English, the comparative form of "good" is "better" and the superlative form is "best." The use of "gooder" is generally considered incorrect in formal writing and speech. However, it can be found in informal contexts, regional dialects, and sometimes in the speech of children learning English.

The word "gooder" follows a pattern of irregular comparatives in English. Many adjectives that have irregular comparative and superlative forms do not follow the typical "-er" and "-est" endings. For example, "good" becomes "better" and "best," while "bad" becomes "worse" and "worst." The formation of "gooder" can be seen as an attempt to regularize this irregular verb by applying the common "-er" suffix, a process known as regularization, which is common in language acquisition and dialectal development.

While grammatically incorrect in standard English, "gooder" may persist in certain vernaculars due to tradition, emphasis, or a lack of exposure to or adherence to standard grammatical rules. Its usage does not typically hinder comprehension in informal settings, but it is advisable to use "better" and "best" in formal or academic contexts to maintain clarity and adhere to established linguistic norms.