by a wider margin

USAGE SUMMARY

"by a wider margin" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when talking about a larger difference or gap between two numbers or groups. For example, "The winning candidate won the election by a wider margin than had been expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Only Utah, with its large Mormon population, favored Mr. Romney by a wider margin.

The New York Times

He held his own state, Illinois, by a wider margin than she held hers, New York.

The Economist

America still tops a few league tables by a wider margin.

The Economist

(Seem unlikely? It isn't: Mr. Obama carried Nevada by a wider margin than Pennsylvania in 2008).

The New York Times

Never had Shaka Smart lost by a wider margin at V.C.U.

The New York Times - Sports

They probably should have won by a wider margin, but at this point they cannot afford to be choosy.

The New York Times - Sports

Any president would take heart in achieving re-election — and by a wider margin than people anticipated.

The New York Times

He now leads there by a wider margin than in Pennsylvania, where his margin is 5.0 percentage points.

The New York Times

Their continuance in office was also part of the referendum on Sunday, with at least three of them winning by a wider margin than the president.

The New York Times

They grew that by a wider margin than every one of their competitors, including Yahoo, and that's probably the key earnings driver".

The New York Times

The girls from Poly Prep took the team title by a wider margin, 123 to 74, from the Hackley School of Tarrytown.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When contrasting two options or choices, employ "by a wider margin" to highlight the greater preference or dominance of one over the other.

Common error

Avoid using "by a wider margin" when describing minimal differences, as it implies a substantial disparity. For minor variations, opt for phrases like "slightly" or "marginally."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a wider margin" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs and adjectives to indicate the extent or degree of difference. Ludwig AI shows it is mainly used to compare quantities or opinions where one exceeds the other significantly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by a wider margin" is a versatile phrase used to highlight a significant difference or degree of superiority. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various reliable sources, particularly in news and media. When using the expression, ensure the difference is substantial enough to warrant the emphasis. Consider context and replace, if needed, with alternatives such as "by a significantly greater amount" for more formal settings or "by much more" for simplicity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by a significantly greater amount

Emphasizes the degree of difference more explicitly.

by a far more significant amount

Emphasizes the significance of the difference, using "far more".

by a more substantial difference

Uses "substantial" to highlight the importance of the difference.

by a considerably larger extent

Replaces "margin" with "extent" and uses "considerably" for emphasis.

by a more pronounced difference

Uses "pronounced" to indicate the visibility or clarity of the difference.

with a considerably wider gap

Replaces "margin" with "gap" and uses "considerably" to enhance.

with a much greater difference

Focuses on the "difference" itself, using "much greater" for emphasis.

by a substantially increased difference

Highlights that the difference has grown notably.

to a substantially higher degree

Shifts from a specific numerical gap to a general level or degree.

with a markedly larger advantage

Replaces "margin" with "advantage" to suggest a position of superiority.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "by a wider margin" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "by a significantly greater amount" or "to a substantially higher degree" to maintain a professional tone.

What's a simpler way to say "by a wider margin"?

For simpler alternatives, you could use phrases like "by much more" or "by far more" which are easier to understand in everyday conversations.

Is it correct to use "by a wider margin" when referring to abstract concepts?

Yes, "by a wider margin" can be used for abstract concepts, such as preferences or opinions, to indicate a stronger or more significant difference in sentiment or belief. For example: "The proposal was favored "by a wider margin" than the previous one".

What is the difference between "by a wider margin" and "by a larger margin"?

Both phrases are similar, but ""by a wider margin"" often implies a more substantial or noticeable difference compared to "by a larger margin". The choice depends on the specific context and the degree of emphasis desired.