dramatically worse than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dramatically worse than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare two things, indicating that one is significantly inferior to the other. Example: "The new software update is dramatically worse than the previous version, causing numerous issues for users."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Shortly after the 2014 conference, private polling conducted by James Morris and Stan Greenberg showed Labour doing slightly – but not dramatically – worse than published polls suggested.

The Guardian

Even after accounting for a host of other factors, Yermack found that the long-term stock-market performance of perk-rich companies was dramatically worse than that of their peers, costing shareholders hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

The New Yorker

Anyway, Mr Obama's command-and-control approach does not forestall setting up a carbon market later.The second-best approach is dearer but not dramatically worse than the best would have been.

The Economist

The farmers who hadn't yet harvested (and been paid for) their crops scored dramatically worse than the post-harvest farmers.

Los Angeles Times

The artwork quality dropped to an amateurish level, and despite the appearance of a few successful stories and novels, such as C. J. Cherryh's The Faded Sun: Kesrith, the overall quality was dramatically worse than it had been under Baen.

Wikipedia

Our findings suggest that the oral health of some Canadian populations may be dramatically worse than what is reported in existing population health surveys.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Over all, he said, the boutiques opening now "will not be dramatically worse off" than those that opened earlier, but he said he expected some of the independents "to convert to a national flag over the next year".

The New York Times

"Technically they are not dramatically worse off than they were in January 2009 because things were falling apart in January 2009.

Huffington Post

If it is true that not one of what must have been scores of people saw any red flags in Sandusky's dealings with children, then the sexual abuse crisis is dramatically worse even than I thought.

Huffington Post

Short-term memory function was dramatically worse in J.G. than in his brother.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Australian Aboriginal people have dramatically worse health outcomes than non-Aboriginal people by every measure, and this is true for children as it is for adults [ 1].

BMC Pediatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure that the criteria for comparison are clear and objective to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "dramatically worse than" in situations where the difference is only marginal or subjective. Overusing such strong language can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dramatically worse than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to quantify the degree to which one thing is inferior to another. As confirmed by Ludwig, the structure is grammatically correct and suitable for expressing a significant disparity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dramatically worse than" is a grammatically sound phrase used to strongly emphasize a negative comparison. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability for expressing a significant difference. While not extremely common, its use is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context justifies such a strong comparison and consider more neutral alternatives like "significantly worse than" if a less emphatic tone is desired. Overusing strong comparatives can reduce their impact, so use judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly inferior to

Emphasizes the lower quality or standard in a more formal tone.

considerably poorer than

Highlights a noticeable deficiency, focusing on the lack of quality.

markedly worse off than

Indicates a clear decline in condition or circumstance.

noticeably substandard compared to

Points out that something doesn't meet the expected level or quality.

distinctly less impressive than

Focuses on the lack of impact or admiration compared to something else.

substantially deficient relative to

Emphasizes the notable shortage or inadequacy in comparison.

plainly not as good as

A straightforward way of saying something is worse without being dramatic.

far from being on par with

Suggests a significant disparity in equality or status.

a world apart from

Indicates a great divergence, implying a very large difference.

pales in comparison to

Highlights that something is much weaker or less significant when compared.

FAQs

How can I use "dramatically worse than" in a sentence?

Use "dramatically worse than" to compare two things, emphasizing that one is significantly inferior to the other. For example: "The company's profits this quarter were "dramatically worse than" expected."

What are some alternatives to "dramatically worse than"?

Alternatives include "significantly inferior to", "considerably poorer than", or "markedly worse off than". Choose the alternative that best fits the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "dramatically worse than" in formal writing?

Yes, "dramatically worse than" can be appropriate in formal writing, but ensure the strong comparative language is justified by a substantial and objectively measurable difference. In some cases, a more neutral alternative like "significantly worse than" might be preferable.

How does "dramatically worse than" compare to "slightly worse than"?

"Dramatically worse than" indicates a large and noticeable difference, while "slightly worse than" indicates a minor or barely perceptible difference. Using the appropriate phrase ensures accurate and impactful communication.