What is the correct usage of "best" in comparison?

The usage of "best" in comparison refers to evaluating the highest degree of quality or performance among multiple items. When comparing more than two items, "best" is appropriate as it indicates that one item surpasses all others in a given context or criterion. For example, if you are assessing the best fruits from a selection that includes apples, oranges, and bananas, you would use "best" to imply one is superior among those three.

In contrast, comparing two items would typically involve using "better," which indicates a direct comparison between just two subjects. In purchasing decisions, while "best" may come into play, the focus here is not solely about decision-making but about the comparative quality among multiple options, thus reinforcing "more than two items" as the correct application for "best."