both best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both best" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "both" implies two items, while "best" is a superlative that does not fit with "both." Example: "She is both the best singer and the best dancer in the competition."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

First up this weekend was the Directors Guild, which is the best predictor of both Best Picture and especially Best Director.

Huffington Post

The fast-rhyming white rapper Eminem took both best rap album and best rap solo performance.

The New York Times

Pension We assumed that one partner, in both best and worst cases, received a small pension.

The New York Times

Their song "____ in Paris" won both best rap song and best rap performance.

The New York Times - Arts

In addition, Mankiewicz again earned Oscars for both best director and screenplay.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His classmates in Northtown voted him both "best dressed" and most likely to appear on the cover of Vogue.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

To supplement his meagre income he translated both best-sellers and classics from the English.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The effectiveness of the methods for both best-value search and economic-search is demonstrated numerically using a synthetic environment.

Artificial Intelligence

For all the schemes using cached overlapping diverse results, we further evaluate both best-fit and first-fit alternatives (Sect. 4.3.2).

Data Science and Engineering

The combination of fairness, efficiency and low-latency makes ERR an attractive scheduling discipline for both best-effort and guaranteed-rate services.

Computer Communications

This indicates that general practitioners do see merits in both 'best practice' (professional interpreting) and 'second best practice' (informal interpreting) [ 16].

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to indicate that two items are the best, ensure you use "both the best" or "the two best" for grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "both best" when you mean "both the best" or "the two best". The word "best" is a superlative adjective, and it requires an article when referring to specific items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both best" is typically intended to function as a description, aiming to highlight two items or aspects as being superior. However, the construction is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI reveals that while instances exist, they often represent deviations from standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "both best" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is usually to highlight that two distinct items are superior, but a more appropriate phrasing would be "both the best" or "the two best". Ludwig AI indicates its limited and often questionable usage. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, particularly in formal writing, it is advisable to use alternative constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

both the best

Adds "the" to specify that you're referring to the best within a group.

the two best

Specifies that you're talking about exactly two items that are the best.

both top

Uses "top" as a synonym for "best", implying high rank or quality.

both leading

Implies being at the front or in charge, suggesting high quality or success.

both finest

Uses "finest" as a synonym, typically for high-quality items.

both superior

Highlights that the items in question are better than others.

both excellent

Describes the items as being of very high quality.

both outstanding

Emphasizes the exceptional nature of the items.

both prime

Implies the items are of the highest quality or importance.

both preeminent

Highlights that the items are the most important or respected.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "both" with a superlative?

When using "both" with a superlative like "best", it's generally more accurate to say "both the best" or "the two best", as in "both the best options".

Is "both best" grammatically correct?

No, "both best" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage usually involves including "the", such as in "both the best".

Can I use "both best" in formal writing?

It is not advisable to use "both best" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "both the best" or "the two best".

What are some alternatives to "both best"?

Alternatives include phrases like "both top", "the two best", or "both leading", depending on the context.