easily than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "easily than" is not correct and cannot be used in written English.
It seems to be a mistaken combination of "easier than" or "more easily than," which are the correct forms to compare ease of action. Example: "She can solve the problem more easily than her classmates."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some boundaries shifted more easily than others.

The New Yorker

Song comes more easily than jokes.

The New York Times

More easily than you might think, evidently.

The New Yorker

He cries more easily than she does.

The New York Times - Style

Some collaborations come more easily than others.

The New York Times

That could happen more easily than you might think.

The Guardian - Film

"They hear it much more easily than the average adult".

The New York Times

Theo A Some people digest beans more easily than others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I gain weight more easily than I used to.

The New Yorker

"It tends to become inflamed more easily than other organs".

The New York Times

Marilyn obviously transmits that more easily than Hepburn.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When making comparisons, use "more easily than" or "easier than" to ensure grammatical correctness. For instance, instead of saying "He learns easily than I do", say "He learns more easily than I do" or "He learns easier than I do".

Common error

Avoid using "easily than" in your writing. It's a common mistake arising from mixing up comparative structures. Always double-check if you should be using "more easily than" or "easier than" instead to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easily than" functions as an incorrect comparative adverbial phrase. It attempts to compare how easily something is done but fails due to improper grammatical construction. Ludwig indicates it is an incorrect combination of "easier than" or "more easily than".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "easily than" appears frequently across various sources, especially news and media, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, it represents a flawed combination of "easier than" and "more easily than". To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, writers should always opt for "more easily than" when comparing adverbs or "easier than" when comparing adjectives. Avoiding "easily than" will enhance the credibility and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with greater ease than

Rephrases the comparison using "ease" as a noun to improve grammatical structure.

more effortlessly than

Replaces "easily" with "effortlessly" to emphasize the lack of effort involved in the comparison.

more readily than

Substitutes "easily" with "readily" to suggest a greater willingness or availability.

more naturally than

Replaces "easily" with "naturally" to suggest that the comparison is inherent or expected.

more smoothly than

Replaces "easily" with "smoothly" to highlight the absence of obstacles or difficulties.

more comfortably than

Substitutes "easily" with "comfortably" to highlight the ease and comfort of the situation.

more simply than

Substitutes "easily" with "simply" to emphasize the straightforward nature of the comparison.

more conveniently than

Replaces "easily" with "conveniently" to emphasize the convenience aspect of the comparison.

with less trouble than

Emphasizes the reduction in difficulty or problems encountered.

less awkwardly than

Uses a negative comparison to highlight a reduction in awkwardness or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "easily than" in a sentence?

The phrase "easily than" is grammatically incorrect. You should use either "more easily than" or "easier than" to make comparisons.

What's the difference between "easier than" and "more easily than"?

"Easier than" is used when comparing adjectives, while "more easily than" is used when comparing adverbs. For example, "This task is easier than I thought" versus "He can solve this problem more easily than I can".

Which sentence is correct: "He solves problems easily than I do" or "He solves problems more easily than I do"?

The correct sentence is "He solves problems more easily than I do". The phrase "easily than" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to using "easily than" in comparative sentences?

Instead of "easily than", you can use phrases like "more readily than", "more smoothly than", or "with greater ease than", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.