brighter than what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brighter than what" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when making a comparison to clarify what is being referred to as "brighter." Example: "The new LED lights are brighter than what we had before, making the room feel more inviting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A new free Web site, cleaner and brighter than what it replaces, will aim to post 80 news items a day with an emphasis on breaking news.

The New York Times

"You have expectations going into the postseason and you never can predict the future, but at the same time, you hope for things much brighter than what is going on right now".

The New York Times - Sports

But the material falling into a black hole does emit radiation, and all of the claims for intermediate black holes are based on the X-rays' being brighter than what the theoretical models allow for a stellar-size black hole.

The New York Times - Science

"You never can predict the future, but at the same time you hope for things that's much brighter than what's going on right now," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

For most kinds of light, real astronomical sources were a hundred times brighter than what they were looking for, except gamma rays, where the real sources were a hundred times fainter.

University of Chicago

You've got all the infrared light from the warm telescope pouring in on you, and it can be a hundred thousand, a million times brighter than what you're looking for.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"That was a brighter spot than what he did at the plate," said Collins, who admitted he was nervous when Chip Hale, the third-base coach, waved Beltran home on Daniel Murphy's single to right.

The New York Times - Sports

Album: Brighter Than Creations Dark.

Huffington Post

Maybe even brighter and richer than what you see with your naked eye, but hey, we're trying to amp up your photos!

Huffington Post

"If that were the case, this supernova would have been 1,000 times brighter in X-rays than what we detected with Chandra," said Pooley.

University of California, Berkeley

If the supernova was caused by a white dwarf star exploding into a dense, hydrogen-rich environment, rather than the collapse of a massive star, SN 2006gy should have been about 1,000 times brighter in X-rays than what Chandra detected.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "brighter than what", ensure the context clearly defines what is being compared. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "brighter than what" without a clear reference point. Ensure the 'what' is explicitly stated or easily understood from the context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brighter than what" serves as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something that possesses a greater degree of luminosity relative to another object, level, or expectation. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase often appears when making direct comparisons in descriptions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

31%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "brighter than what" is a grammatically sound and comparably used phrase to describe something with a greater degree of luminosity relative to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various domains. Its primary function is to make comparisons, and as such, it’s important to clearly state or imply the reference point to avoid ambiguity. While not exceedingly common, it's frequent enough to be recognized and appropriate for use in most contexts, especially News & Media, Academia, and Science. Remember that clarity is key, and alternatives like "more luminous than that" can provide different shades of meaning to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more luminous than that

Replaces "brighter" with "luminous", emphasizing the light emission aspect.

more radiant than that

Substitutes "brighter" with "radiant", focusing on the emission of energy as light.

more brilliant than that

Replaces "brighter" with "brilliant", highlighting the intensity and impressiveness of the light.

shines more intensely than that

Emphasizes the intensity of the shine rather than just brightness.

more illuminated than that

Changes the focus to the degree of illumination provided.

more dazzling than that

Replaces "brighter" with "dazzling", stressing the overwhelming nature of the light.

more glaring than that

Substitutes "brighter" with "glaring", indicating an uncomfortably bright light.

more vivid than that

Shifts the description from brightness to the vividness of the light or color.

more intense than that

Focuses on the intensity of the light, which may include brightness but also other factors.

more glowing than that

Replaces "brighter" with "glowing", which might suggest a softer, more diffuse light.

FAQs

How can I use "brighter than what" in a sentence?

Use "brighter than what" to compare the luminosity of two things, like: "The new LED is "brighter than what" we had before".

What's a good alternative to "brighter than what"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "more luminous than that" or "more radiant than that".

Is it always necessary to specify 'what' when using "brighter than what"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying 'what' provides clarity and avoids ambiguity. If the reference is implied, ensure it is easily understood from the surrounding text.

Which is correct, "brighter than what" or "brighter than that"?

Both "brighter than what" and "brighter than that" can be correct, depending on the context. "Brighter than what" implies a specific reference, while "brighter than that" usually refers to something previously mentioned or understood.