Grammar pedants help required please

[therealpigdog]

Which is correct:

They are one of the most established firms in their area; or

They are one of the more established firms in their area?

I suspect it's unlikely I'll be pulled up on it, but now I've got doubt in my mind I need to know which is the correct phrase.

Cheers

[G'kar]

Longest?

[TankRizzo]

Can you be "most established"? I thought it was an absolute, you're either established or you're not?

[Dargie]

Surely it should be a descriptive word? Like longest, biggest, oldest? Or am i wrong?

[Elskeggso]

Could you not just go with "An established firm" ?

[Sisyphus]

Whichever you use, in my opinion neither is incorrect, I think it would be improved by using "well established " in place of simply established.

[mybrainhurts]

Firm is singular...

IT is an established firm...

[therealpigdog]

mybrainhurts said:

Firm is singular...

IT is an established firm...

True, my mistake was to change the name for "they".

Client wants to emphasize that they have been around for 100+ years rather than just a couple of years. I'm proofing the memorandum and don't know whether it is correct. Personally I prefer 'more' but am not sure whether I can justify the change from the client's 'most'. I'm not convinced it's an absolute as there are varying degrees?

BTW, this is not the extent of my work on this (much as I'd like to charge for spellchecking) but just the last point before it goes to the printers and I want it to be right!

[G'kar]

Longest.

No question mark this time, you'll notice.

[therealpigdog]

G'kar said:

Longest.

No question mark this time, you'll notice.

Noticed. Amended. Sent.

I owe you a beer. Cheers.

[groucho]

It's all about comparatives and superlatives. If comparing more than one it is best (superlative). If comparing between two it's better (comparative). You can now work out the answer from that.

Am I right?

Edited by groucho on Tuesday 14th April 19:03