In a speech about the problems with the Affordable Care Act registration site, President Obama said, “Nobody is madder than me.” The Internet, ever the haven of grammar trolls, has erupted with people on Twitter calling the President out for using “madder” claiming that it’s not a word. Bad news, pedants — “Madder” is absolutely a word.
Obama’s official Twitter account tweeted out the relevant quote from his speech:
“No one is madder than me about the fact that the website isn’t working as well as it should … It’s going to get fixed.” —President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 21, 2013
Here’s a sample of how Twitter responded:
Dear Mr. President “madder” is not a word, say “more mad”. You have no room for grammatical errors. — macy staggs (@mnstaggs) October 22, 2013
You would think that the president would care a little more about his grammar if he is going to be giving a speech. “Madder” is not a word. — Brittany Dawn ♛ (@brittany4824) October 21, 2013
Obama said the word “madder” today in a speech, thats not a word, it’s “more made”. Maybe he should create affordable education. — Trevor Kinney (@TrevorKinney) October 22, 2013
Should I feel some sort of way that Obama tweeted the word ‘madder’ ? That’s not a word sir – it’s ‘more mad’ come on you’re the president . — Ally Long ♛ (@allylongx3) October 21, 2013
Mr. President, “madder” is not a word. I’m just saying. — KayyyPeee (@KPLivesToDance) October 21, 2013
@brookebcnn “Nobody is madder than me” – President Obama (but “madder” isn’t a word and “mad” means crazy”
— Jason Gastrich (@jasonagastrich) October 21, 2013
Obama just said nobody is madder than me..madder isn’t even a freaking word
— Coke Girl (@blondejobb) October 21, 2013
@WhiteHouse @NYDailyNews “madder” isn’t a word FYI, Obama
— Brianna Wisniewski (@Bri_Wisniewski) October 21, 2013
There are more with some colorful language, but more importantly, here’s what happens when you ask Google to define “Mad” for you:
There you have it. The comparative form of “mad” is “madder.” Don’t believe Google? Check out Merriam Webster, Dictionary.com, or Oxford Dictionaries and get the same result. Don’t trust online dictionaries? Here it is in print in Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Deluxe Edition:
(image via Brandon Strohl)
Charles Dickens even used it in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit:
We don’t suppose any of you feel like apologizing?
(Stan Carey on Twitter via Peter Sokolowski, image via Barack Obama on Twitter)
- Twerk was added to the Oxford English Dictionary
- The OED is now considering a few other new words
- The NSA was using fake words to try to hire people
