More than better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than better" is not grammatically correct.
The idiomatic phrase that should be used in its place is "better than ever". For example: "After months of hard work, he's running better than ever."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

But the brand's image needs much more than better cars.

The New York Times

Improving life chances has to mean more than better properties.

The Guardian

Such estimates about more than better understanding a high.

The New York Times - Science

The IAEA taskforce, however, which is run by Massimo Aparo, may need more than better equipment.

The Guardian

People facing wide monthly swings in income and expenses need more than better budgeting skills or financial literacy education.

Harvard Business Review

But even if that's no longer an issue, it requires more than better bonuses to heal the wounds inflicted when two former rivals are forced together.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

To alleviate the squeeze on working-age poor, JRF has called for: Reform of the markets for essential goods and services such as energy, financial services and transport, to ensure they provide good value for money and those on low incomes do not pay more than better-off households for services.

The Guardian

Her company provides coverage to one in nine Americans, more than better-known UnitedHealthcare, Cigna or Aetna.

Forbes

S&P also said it believes business volume in 2008 will continue to fall, which will hurt CIFG more than better-established insurers.

Forbes

The RN4CAST consortium, a research group involving teams from 12 European countries, has found hospitals with less nurses during the daytime on general wards would see around 20 extra deaths a year more than better-staffed hospitals.

BBC

Compare that to Manhattan Beach, where about 3% of the mortgages were considered "high cost". The counterintuitive bottom line is that living in Compton often means paying hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars more than better-off neighbors for basic necessities.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "more than better" with phrases like "better than expected" or "superior to" to accurately convey the intended meaning of improvement or higher quality.

Common error

Be mindful of using double comparatives. "More than better" incorrectly combines "more" with the comparative form "better". Opt for simpler, grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than better" functions as a comparative, though grammatically flawed. It attempts to express a higher degree of quality or improvement. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "more than better" is used to express a degree of improvement or superiority, it is grammatically incorrect. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's better to use alternatives such as "better than expected", "superior to", or "improved over". Despite its presence in various sources including News & Media, Science, and some academic content, its flawed grammar detracts from its overall suitability in formal writing. Therefore, opt for grammatically sound alternatives to convey your intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Improved over

Indicates a state of advancement or enhancement relative to a previous condition.

Surpassing

Implies going beyond a limit or standard, often in a competitive context.

Superior to

Emphasizes higher quality or performance compared to something else.

Outperforming

Stresses the act of achieving better results than another entity or benchmark.

Better than expected

Focuses on the positive surprise of something being of higher quality than anticipated.

Advanced beyond

Highlights progress and development that has surpassed a certain point.

Exceeding expectations

Highlights surpassing what was initially anticipated or predicted.

Elevated above

Conveys a sense of being raised to a higher status or level.

Transcending

Suggests rising above or beyond limitations or ordinary levels.

Refined compared to

Emphasizes the improvement through careful adjustment and purification.

FAQs

Is "more than better" grammatically correct?

No, "more than better" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "better than expected", "superior to", or "improved over".

What's a more formal alternative to "more than better"?

For a more formal alternative, consider using phrases such as "superior to" or "outperforming". These options provide a clearer and more grammatically sound expression of improvement.

How can I use the idea of "more than better" in a sentence correctly?

Instead of "more than better", try rephrasing your sentence to incorporate alternatives like "The new model is "better than expected"" or "This approach is "superior to" the previous one".

What's the difference between "more than better" and "better than expected"?

"More than better" is grammatically incorrect, while "better than expected" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that something has surpassed initial anticipations or predictions. So use "better than expected" or "superior to".