be greater than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

"be greater than expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something exceeding expectations. For example, "Sales for the new product line were greater than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

However, we remain concerned about the outlook for the UK and the possibility that losses from the North American business in run off will be greater than expected.

The Guardian - Business

As "Stories I Only Tell My Friends" unfolds, the full extent of Mr. Lowe's fame and notoriety turn out to be greater than expected.

The New York Times - Books

Asserting it had been battered by turmoil among the telephone companies it supplies, 3Com, a maker of telecommunications and data network equipment, said today that its per-share loss for the second quarter would be greater than expected.

The New York Times

"Perhaps most extraordinarily, should the impact on the finch from the mine be greater than expected, Adani is not required to take further action or make good the unexpected harm," the report said.

The Guardian

Hideo Shiogama and Tomoo Ogura, at Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies, said the explanation of how fewer clouds form as the world warms was "convincing", and agreed this indicated future climate would be greater than expected.

The Guardian

Disruption to sales will be greater than expected and group revenue and profits for this year will be lower than forecast, Hornby said on Tuesday, in an unscheduled statement two weeks before its first-half results.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Mr. Shannon said demand for the properties had been greater than expected.

The New York Times

Immunotherapy can also be combined with targeted therapy to achieve synergistic effects (effects that are greater than expected).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Problems with drug procurement were greater than expected, and donors had delivered only about $9 billion of the $27 billion pledged.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The spears "suggest that the behavioral complexity of these early humans was greater than expected," she said.

The New York Times - Science

"What we've seen is that the effect has been greater than expected but we don't know why this is at the moment," Dr Sutter told The Independent.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be greater than expected" to convey that an outcome or result has exceeded initial predictions or anticipations. This phrase is suitable when you want to emphasize a positive surprise or a significant overachievement.

Common error

Avoid using "be greater than expected" when simply describing something large or significant without any prior expectation or benchmark. This phrase is specifically for highlighting a positive variance from an anticipated value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be greater than expected" primarily functions as a comparative expression. It indicates that a particular result, outcome, or quantity has exceeded the initially anticipated or predicted value. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be greater than expected" is used to indicate that an outcome or result has surpassed initial predictions or anticipations. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It is commonly found in scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral register. Alternatives include "exceed expectations" and "surpass anticipated levels". Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize a positive surprise or overachievement, avoiding its misuse in contexts without prior expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be larger than anticipated

Directly substitutes "greater" with "larger", maintaining a similar comparative structure.

exceed expectations

Focuses on the act of surpassing what was anticipated, often used in performance or achievement contexts.

be bigger than expected

Replaces "greater" with "bigger", making the phrase more informal.

surpass anticipated levels

Highlights exceeding a specific level or quantity that was predicted.

outperform projections

Specifically used in business or economic contexts, referring to better results than forecasted.

prove more significant than anticipated

Emphasizes the importance or impact being larger than initially thought.

go beyond expectations

Focuses on surpassing the general level of anticipation, rather than a specific numerical expectation.

turn out to be more substantial than foreseen

Highlights the actual amount or size being larger than predicted, adding a sense of discovery.

prove to be an overachievement

Highlights achieving more than what was planned or believed possible.

amount to more than anticipated

Focuses on the final total or result being higher than what was initially predicted.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "be greater than expected"?

Use "be greater than expected" to describe situations where the actual outcome or result surpasses the initial forecast or anticipation. It's ideal for emphasizing a positive surprise or overachievement.

What are some alternatives to "be greater than expected"?

You can use alternatives like "exceed expectations", "surpass anticipated levels", or "outperform projections" depending on the context.

How does "be greater than expected" differ from "be better than expected"?

"Be greater than expected" usually refers to a quantifiable difference, where the actual amount is higher than predicted. "Be better than expected" implies a qualitative improvement that exceeds expectations.

Is "be greater than expected" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "be greater than expected" is suitable for formal writing, especially in contexts such as business reports, scientific papers, and news articles. It conveys a clear and professional tone when describing outcomes that exceed predictions.