Comparatives: Pretty vs. Prettier vs. More Pretty in Fiction and Nonfiction

The way you compare things in writing does more than follow grammar rules. They quietly tell readers what kind of voice they’re stepping into. So yes, comparatives matter. A lot more than we think.

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Setting the Tone

Comparatives are words we use to compare two things, like taller, more interesting, or less dramatic. In storytelling and nonfiction, they influence how “natural” your writing sounds. English gives us two main options. First, we have the -er endings, such as prettier, faster, darker. Then next we have the word more + adjective, such as more beautiful, more complex, more effective.

Both are grammatically correct, but they don’t always feel interchangeable. Context and genre decide which one fits best.

Like a Human Thought

In fiction, especially contemporary genres, shorter comparatives usually win. They are often being used by authors more. Words like colder, prettier, or meaner feel conversational and immediate, which helps the prose flow.

Think about how people actually think or talk. We don’t usually pause mid-thought to mentally construct the second comparative form, which is more pretty. We say prettier and keep moving.

Example:

She looks prettier tonight, but the sadness in her eyes ruins the effect.

That sentence feels natural and emotionally grounded. Switching it to more pretty would sound stiff or slightly off unless the narration is intentionally formal or ironic.

Genres where -er comparatives shine would be in contemporary fiction, romance, young adult, and first-person or close third-person point of view. These genres thrive on voice and intimacy, and shorter comparatives help keep the language clean and believable.

Precision First

In nonfiction, the rules loosen a bit, but intention matters more. Academic, technical, or professional writing often leans toward more + adjective, especially with longer or abstract descriptors.

For example:

This method is more effective than the previous approach.

Using effectiver would be incorrect, and even when both forms are technically allowed, more constructions often sound clearer and more neutral. That said, nonfiction isn’t a monolith. Blogs, personal essays, and narrative nonfiction often borrow fiction’s conversational tone.

Example:

The second draft was clearer and more confident than the first.

Here, you can see that mixing clearer with more confident works because both sound natural and balanced. You can see this a lot more in different social media posts, blogs, essays, dialogues, where writers want to make their writing informal and conversational.

Keep Them Clean

Read your sentence out loud. If it sounds weird, it probably is. Match the comparative to your genre and POV. Stay consistent within the same narrative voice. Avoid overthinking “rules” when natural flow matters more. If your writing leans modern, conversational, or character-driven, shorter comparatives usually fit best. If it leans formal, analytical, or instructional, more constructions often feel cleaner.

If you’ve finished your manuscript and want to be sure your language choices are consistent, natural, and genre-appropriate, we’re here to help. Send your manuscript to themanuscripteditor.com for a complimentary 800-word sample edit today.