better than anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

"better than anticipated" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to express that something was better than what you were expecting. For example: "The party was better than anticipated - the food was amazing!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"They were much better than anticipated".

The New York Times

The July unemployment number was better than anticipated.

The New York Times

It put in a better than anticipated performance at home and in its growing Asian business.

The Guardian - Business

Expedia said yesterday that its fiscal fourth quarter had been substantially better than anticipated.

The New York Times

Financial markets interpreted the data, which were much better than anticipated, optimistically.

The New York Times

"It's better than anticipated," Carol Cox, a spokeswoman for Barr, said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Better-than-anticipated earnings and brokerage house upgradings gave other stocks a lift.

The New York Times

The night before, a better-than-anticipated audience came to Tilles Center for a performance by the Suzanne Farrell Ballet.

The New York Times

Harvard ended the year with a surplus, which the University's top financial officers credited to budgetary discipline and better-than-anticipated revenue in some key areas.

Harvard University

On Thursday, following Eurostat figures that showed Greece had attained a better-than-anticipated primary budget surplus last year, the leftist leader dug in his heels.

The Guardian

That is better than expected and was attributed to better-than-anticipated results at AXA's life insurance business and its property and casualty unit, the company said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "better than anticipated" to convey a positive outcome that surpassed initial expectations, adding a nuance of surprise or unexpected improvement.

Common error

While acceptable, overuse of "better than anticipated" can sound repetitive. Replace it with stronger synonyms like "exceeded expectations" or "surpassed projections" in formal reports for a more impactful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better than anticipated" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes that an outcome or result has exceeded initial expectations. The examples show it frequently describing economic data, sales figures, or performance results.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "better than anticipated" is a versatile phrase used to express that an outcome has exceeded initial expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. While common across various contexts, as seen in the numerous examples provided, it is particularly prevalent in news, business, and scientific reporting. For formal writing, consider stronger synonyms like "exceeded expectations" to avoid repetition. When the context explicitly involves numerical data or forecasts, the phrase "better than projected" is a strong alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded expectations

More concise and emphasizes surpassing a specific benchmark.

surpassed expectations

Similar to 'exceeded expectations' but can imply a greater margin of outperformance.

outperformed projections

Specifically relates to exceeding predicted or forecasted results, often in a business context.

proved more successful than expected

Highlights the success aspect and acknowledges the initial uncertainty.

turned out better than we thought

More informal and personal, suggesting a revised assessment.

was a pleasant surprise

Focuses on the unexpected and positive nature of the outcome.

did better than we had hoped

Emphasizes initial hopes and the positive outcome surpassing them.

overdelivered on promises

Highlights exceeding commitments or promises made.

showed greater promise than initially foreseen

Emphasizes the potential and the revision of initial perceptions.

was a welcome improvement over what we anticipated

Highlights the improvement aspect and the initial anticipation.

FAQs

How can I use "better than anticipated" in a sentence?

Use "better than anticipated" to describe a situation or result that has exceeded initial expectations. For example, "The company's profits were "better than anticipated", signaling strong growth".

What are some alternatives to "better than anticipated"?

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

Is it correct to say "better than expected" instead of "better than anticipated"?

Yes, "better than expected" is a perfectly acceptable and often interchangeable alternative to "better than anticipated". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What is the difference between "better than anticipated" and "better than projected"?

"Better than anticipated" generally refers to exceeding a general expectation, while "better than projected" specifically implies exceeding a formal projection or forecast, often in a business or financial context.