Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
PENULTIMATE / ULTIMATE
These two words are obviously related, but they are not the same. Likewise, their meanings are related but not the same. The adjective ultimate is properly used to mean the last. The adjective penultimate, on the other hand, means next to the last, as in the number eleven is the penultimate number when counting to a dozen. Some people use penultimate to mean the best or the last, but that distinction really belongs only to ultimate.
INCORRECT: There are ten contestants in this competition. As contestant number nine, your performance will be the ultimate one.
CORRECT: There are ten contestants in this competition. As contestant number nine, your performance will be the penultimate one.
INCORRECT: Stephen Hawking was known as the penultimate authority on black holes.
CORRECT: Stephen Hawking was known as the ultimate authority on black holes.
NOTE: While ultimate can indicate superiority, penultimate does not.
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