Charita Cadenhead asked, so I went looking for the answer.
The difference between worse and worst, and when to use each:
"Worse" is a comparative word, to be used when you are comparing two things, or comparing one thing to a set of things. Its definition is: "of a lower quality; less attractive, pleasing, etc; more serious or severe."
For instance:
"The flu is worse than a common cold."
"In my opinion, wind is worse than snow or rain."
Worst is a superlative. It is the opposite of best. Its definition is: "worse than all the others; least helpful or skillful; most unfavorable or corrupt."
For instance:
"This is the worst storm we've had all winter."
"The coffee at our local café is the worst I've ever tasted." (true story)
Look at these two word sets: good, better, best - bad, worse, worst.
It might be easy to remember that best and worst both end in "t," but an easier way might be to look at the words you use with it.
When you use "worse" it is always followed by the stated (or implied) word "than." You might say "My cold is worse" without saying "than it was yesterday," but the meaning would be there.
When you use the word "worst" is always preceded by "the." Just as there can be only one "best" there can be only one "worst."
NOTE - In spite of what my aunt Nick used to say to my kids when she was being silly, it isn't proper to say "most worstest" or "more worser."
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles|freedigitalimages.net
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