Real better

[Dave Wilton]

I use it. In fact it is so natural to me that I never thought much of it. I
can't think of any uses with other comparative adjectives, just "better."
"Really better" doesn't seem familiar to me, but it also does not seem
unnatural.

I was born and raised in New Jersey and as an adult have lived for extended
periods in the Washington DC and San Francisco Bay areas.

-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
David Borowitz
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 8:31 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Real better

The other day I heard "It made me feel real better" meaning "a lot better,"
which is something I had never heard before. (Both white; I'm from
Baltimore, she's from Northern California.) I asked my friend about it, and
she claims it's normal for her. She doesn't have "really better," and I
forgot to ask about "real (other comparative adjective)," but I've never
heard that either.

Is this sort of thing widespread? Google is pretty unhelpful in this case,
and I don't know where else to look.

--
It is better to be quotable than to be honest.
    -Tom Stoppard

Borowitz

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