"Popularer" or "More Popular": Which Is Correct?

"Popularer" is not an accepted word in the English language. The correct term is "more popular," which indicates that one person, place, or object is liked or preferred by a larger number of people than the others.

For example, "The second book in the series is more popular than the first." This sentence expresses that more people favored and enjoyed the second book over the first book of the series.

"More popular" is also commonly used to compare people as well. People use the phrase to compare celebrities and even peers in school; they may talk about how one actress is more popular than other actresses around her age or how a male student at school is more popular than his fellow teammate on the basketball team.

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Why do some people say "popularer?"

Some people may say "popularer" due to language variation, regional dialects, or informality in speech. Language is dynamic, and it can evolve over time, sometimes leading to the creation of non-standard words or forms. In some informal or colloquial contexts, people might use "popularer" as a comparative form of "popular" because it seems more concise or familiar to them.

What does "more popular" mean?

"More popular" is a comparative phrase used to describe something that is liked or preferred by a larger number of people compared to something else. It indicates a higher level of popularity or a greater degree of being well-liked or favored in comparison to another item or option.

For example:

The blue car is more popular than the red one among our customers.
- This means that more customers prefer the blue car over the red one.
Taylor Swift is more popular than Justin Bieber in this region.
- This suggests that Taylor Swift has a larger fan base or is more widely liked in the specified area compared to Justin Bieber.

In both examples, "more popular" indicates a comparative level of popularity, with one thing being favored or liked to a greater extent than the other.

Comparing "popularer" and "more popular"

As shown in the Google Books Ngram Viewer graph above, the correctly phrased "more popular" has been used throughout the last few centuries while the incorrect misspelling "popularer" has not been used.

It's important to note that "popularer" is not considered standard English and is not widely accepted in formal writing or speech. The correct and standard way to express the comparative degree of popularity is "more popular" in English. So, while you may encounter "popularer" in certain informal contexts or specific regional dialects, it is not recommended for use in formal or standard communication.

Example sentences

In recent years, streaming services have become more popular than traditional cable TV.
The new restaurant in town is quickly becoming more popular than the established ones.
Among the students, science fiction novels are generally more popular than historical fiction.
Over time, smartphones have become more popular due to their versatility and convenience.
Jazz music was once more popular than rock and roll in this neighborhood.
The red dress is more popular among customers than the blue one.
Action movies tend to be more popular among teenagers than romantic comedies.
In the summer, ice cream flavors like chocolate and vanilla are more popular than mint.
The use of electric cars is becoming more popular as people prioritize environmental sustainability.
As the weather gets colder, hot beverages like coffee and tea become more popular among customers.

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