Caveat Lector

This post came about as I was marking Ivy's essay. What is the correct usage for the phrase? Is it "If worse comes to worse", "If worst comes to worst" or "If worse comes to worst"?

The answers on the Internet SEEM TO suggest the last alternative.

I found a short answer here at Yahoo! Answers.
There is also a short entry here by a "D_Art" on Urban Dictionary.

However, there is a contrary opinion on "The Maven's Word of the Day"website, that suggests that the phrase should actually be "If the worst comes to the worst".

Students sometimes ask me why is English so confusing at times. I wonder to myself as well and then I realise that we would give our love to complex creatures with emotions and mood swings, lovers with tempers and tantrums, and living things that are fickle and indecisive; instead of unfeeling machines and cold laboratory equipment. We always give our love to things with imperfections, and it is those imperfections that makes our love perfect.

And that is how the English language can be at times; a tempermental animal with many exceptions to the rule. It is a living thing and is constantly changing and evolving. It is probably why so many of us love to craft it and use it.

So in answer to your question, Ivy, if worst came to worst, you should write the sentence in another way for the exams.

Have fun,
Michael Lee

p.s. But if you are planning to be a writer of novels or books, then follow your heart (and perhaps your favourite author). In my case, I would follow the writer of "Tom Sawyer", Mark Twain, and say, "If the worst came to the worst, I will still have my love of my family."