Better than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Better than expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or outcome that has exceeded your initial expectations or predictions. Example: "The results of the project were better than expected, leading to increased funding for future initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

U.S. GDP Growth Better Than Expected.

Forbes

Federated's Sales Last Week Better Than Expected.

Forbes

Better than expected.

The Guardian - Travel

Better than expected UK retail sales also helped matters.

The Guardian - Business

Elsewhere, Mr. Santorum does better than expected.

The New York Times

Earnings have been mostly better than expected.

The New York Times

Remittances held up better than expected.

The Economist

"It was better than expected," he added.

The New York Times

I think that was better than expected.

The New York Times - Sports

Hashemi did better than expected this Friday.

The New York Times

Desserts were better than expected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Better than expected" in formal writing, consider providing specific data or context to support the statement. This enhances credibility and provides a clearer understanding of the positive variance.

Common error

Avoid using "Better than expected" as a standalone statement without providing specific details or comparisons. Always give some context for it. For example, rather than simply saying "Sales were better than expected", specify the expected sales figures and the actual sales figures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Better than expected" functions as an adjectival phrase used to modify a noun or pronoun, describing it as having exceeded initial predictions. As shown in Ludwig, this is a common way to express positive outcomes in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Better than expected" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to describe situations or results that have exceeded initial forecasts or anticipations. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, especially in news, media, science, and business. While its register is generally neutral, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional settings. When using this phrase, ensure to provide context or specific data to support the statement and avoid overuse. To enhance writing, consider alternatives like "exceeded expectations" or "outperformed predictions" for different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Exceeded expectations

Focuses on the act of surpassing what was predicted or hoped for.

Surpassed anticipations

Highlights the concept of going beyond what was anticipated, often used in a more formal context.

Outperformed predictions

Emphasizes a performance aspect, indicating that results were better than forecasted.

Went beyond projections

Indicates that the actual results significantly exceeded the initial projections.

Did better than anticipated

A more conversational way of saying something performed at a higher level than expected.

Turned out better than we thought

Reflects a sense of surprise and relief that the outcome was more favorable than initially believed.

Beyond our wildest dreams

Suggests an outcome that far exceeded any possible expectation, often implying a sense of wonder.

More successful than forecast

Highlights the success element, implying that the success rate has exceeded what has been originally calculated.

Beat expectations

Focuses on having defeated the level of results that were originally predicted.

Overdelivered

Suggests an outcome where far more was achieved than was promised or expected.

FAQs

How can I use "Better than expected" in a sentence?

You can use "Better than expected" to describe outcomes that have surpassed initial predictions or forecasts. For instance, "The company's profits were better than expected this quarter", or "The project's completion time was better than expected".

What are some alternatives to "Better than expected"?

You can use alternatives like "exceeded expectations", "surpassed anticipations", or "outperformed predictions" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "Better than expected" in formal writing?

While "Better than expected" is generally acceptable, it might be more suitable for neutral contexts. In very formal or academic writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "surpassed projections" or "exceeded forecasts".

What's the difference between "Better than expected" and "as expected"?

"Better than expected" indicates a positive surprise, where the outcome was more favorable than initially anticipated. "As expected", on the other hand, means the outcome was in line with the initial predictions.