Worse is a comparative and worst is the superlative. So, without something to compare to, using the comparative is a bit odd (though, at least for this phrase, I think anyone would understand what was meant).
Because the writer is convincing themselves to take a course of action by looking at the worst case scenario and finding it not too bad. It’s meaningless to argue
“I should try it because this bad thing could happen”,
unlike
“I should try it because this bad thing is the worst that could happen”.
This seems right, but why?
Worseis a comparative andworstis the superlative. So, without something to compare to, using the comparative is a bit odd (though, at least for this phrase, I think anyone would understand what was meant).Because the writer is convincing themselves to take a course of action by looking at the worst case scenario and finding it not too bad. It’s meaningless to argue
“I should try it because this bad thing could happen”,
unlike
“I should try it because this bad thing is the worst that could happen”.