[Grammar] The eldest/oldest of two sisters

Status
Not open for further replies.

Abood

New member
Joined
Nov 21, 2020
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Egypt
Current Location
Egypt
Which word is correct in this sentence?

"Sarah is the eldest/oldest of two sisters."
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
There have been many threads on this topic. If you go to "Search", then "Advanced Search", then put oldest eldest in the keyword search box, you will find them.

What useful information did you find when you looked up "eldest" and "oldest" in good dictionaries (online or physical)?
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
I'd use the elder.
 

PeterCW

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2020
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Like Tdol, I would use elder but it isn't uncommon for native speakers to confuse elder/eldest so the mistake would probably pass unnoticed in normal conversation.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top