a distinctly better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distinctly better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two or more things to emphasize that one is clearly superior to the others. Example: "After reviewing the options, I can confidently say that this model offers a distinctly better performance than its competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But for all the handshakes and cultural agreements, the relationship between China and Russia remains at its core a "strategic competition" — one in which rising China has a distinctly better hand.

The New York Times

Herein, the majority of the prepared 3-hydroxylated substances showed notably lower potency than the parent pyridinium structures, although compound 8 with C12 alkyl chain proved a distinctly better antimicrobial activity in submicromolar range.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

This model has a distinctly better performance than the classic models such as the Timur-Coates and SDR models and may be generalized to other similar reservoirs with ultrafine pore structures and significant volumes of clay minerals.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

The prediction following from the above considerations is very simple: SUR should be a distinctly better surrogate parameter of K m than the tissue SUV since it is expected to exhibit a much higher linear correlation to K m.

EJNMMI Research

We transform businesses at scale by creating systems of brand, product and service that deliver a distinctly better experience.

Unicef

Subanalysis revealed a distinctly better coefficient of determination during deep sedation (r2 = 0.28) than with light sedation (r2 < 0.01) for the assessment tools.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

First, the references: As you watch this film, you'll be reminded of everything from Robert Altman's A Wedding to Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married -- both distinctly better films with a firm grip on the film from scene to scene and as a whole.

Huffington Post

Maybe an hour later, a stretch limo pulled up, and out stepped Christie Brinkley, looking distinctly better in person, with a short stocky guy, yes, the King of Long Guyland, Billy Joel.

Huffington Post

Maybe an hour later, a stretch limo pulled up, and out stepped Christie Brinkley, looking distinctly better in person, I must say, with a short stocky balding guy.

Huffington Post

Many places a thousand times larger are served by only a single newspaper; Philipstown now has two, each distinctly better than what was there before.

The New Yorker

There are no edges distinctly better than conflicting signals that allow a safe placement of Notostraca, Spinicaudata, Lynceus, or Cyclestheria.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing options, use "a distinctly better" to emphasize a clear and easily perceivable advantage. This phrase is useful for conveying a strong sense of superiority without being overly verbose.

Common error

Avoid using "a distinctly better" when describing purely subjective preferences. While it works well for objective improvements, using it for personal taste can sound inappropriately assertive. For example, instead of saying "This flavor is a distinctly better choice", consider "I find this flavor much more appealing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distinctly better" functions as a pre-modifier to a noun, serving to emphasize the degree to which something is superior. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used to compare and contrast, highlighting the clear advantage one thing has over another.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a distinctly better" is a phrase used to express that something is clearly superior. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. It's most commonly found in science, news and business contexts, indicating an objective improvement or advantage. When using the phrase, ensure you're describing something with a clear advantage and not simply a subjective preference. Alternatives like "a significantly superior", "a noticeably improved", or "a markedly enhanced" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significantly superior

Replaces "distinctly" with "significantly", emphasizing a notable difference in quality.

a noticeably improved

Focuses on the aspect of improvement and replaces "distinctly better" with "noticeably improved", suggesting an easily observable enhancement.

a markedly enhanced

Uses "markedly" and "enhanced" to highlight a clear and positive change, suggesting a strong improvement.

a considerably finer

Employs "considerably finer" to indicate a substantial degree of refinement or improvement in quality.

an exceptionally superior

Replaces "distinctly" with "exceptionally", indicating an outstanding degree of superiority.

a palpably better

Uses "palpably" to suggest that the improvement is easily perceived or felt.

a demonstrably superior

Highlights that the superiority can be shown or proven, adding a layer of factual evidence.

a substantially improved

Focuses on the magnitude of the improvement, suggesting that it is considerable.

a decidedly preferable

Shifts the focus to preference, suggesting that the item is clearly more desirable.

a plainly superior

Uses "plainly" to suggest that the superiority is obvious and easily seen.

FAQs

How can I use "a distinctly better" in a sentence?

Use "a distinctly better" to emphasize that something is clearly superior to another. For instance, "This new model offers "a distinctly better performance" compared to the older version".

What phrases are similar to "a distinctly better"?

Alternatives include "a significantly superior", "a noticeably improved", or "a markedly enhanced", all of which highlight a clear improvement or advantage.

Is it appropriate to use "a distinctly better" in formal writing?

Yes, "a distinctly better" is suitable for formal writing, especially when describing objective improvements or advantages. However, ensure the context warrants such a strong emphasis on superiority.

What's the difference between "a distinctly better" and "a slightly better"?

"A distinctly better" implies a clear and easily perceivable improvement, whereas "a slightly better" suggests a marginal or subtle difference. The choice depends on the magnitude of the advantage you want to convey.