faster than usual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'faster than usual' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to compare something's speed with its regular speed. For example, "The train was going faster than usual when it suddenly stopped."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The pressure makes me smarter and faster than usual.

Columbia University

"Even my laptop is running faster than usual," she wrote.

The New Yorker

He fell asleep faster than usual, and stayed asleep.

The New Yorker

This allows them to zip through the material much faster than usual.

Stanford University

In fact, the majority (58%) believe healthcare spending has been rising faster than usual.

The Guardian

Clearly these records (if they were actual records) were being spun a little faster than usual.

The New York Times

One reason this "Don Carlo" went by faster than usual was its depth of casting.

The New York Times - Arts

During the winter of 1996, a car pulled down the driveway much faster than usual.

The New York Times

At the moment, Mr. Lazio seems to be moving even faster than usual.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

It then began another ascent, this time while accelerating at faster-than-usual takeoff speeds.

The Washington Post

The agency gave a faster-than-usual review to the iBOT application, which Johnson & Johnson filed on July 30.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faster than usual" to clearly indicate that something is happening more quickly than it typically does. For emphasis, consider adding context to explain why this change in speed is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "faster than usual" without providing specific context. Saying "things are moving faster than usual" is less effective than "project timelines are moving faster than usual due to the new software implementation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "faster than usual" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree or extent to which an action or event occurs. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to express a comparative increase in speed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

16%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "faster than usual" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It serves to indicate that something is happening at an accelerated pace compared to its normal rate, as seen across various contexts like news, academia, and general writing. While versatile, it's important to provide specific context to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "more quickly than usual" or "at a quicker pace than normal". Its frequent appearance in authoritative sources and across diverse domains underlines its widespread acceptability and relevance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more quickly than usual

Replaces "faster" with "more quickly", offering a slightly more formal alternative.

at a quicker pace than normal

Substitutes "faster" with "quicker pace" and "usual" with "normal", altering the phrasing while maintaining the meaning.

more rapidly than normal

Uses "more rapidly" instead of "faster" and "normal" in place of "usual", introducing a more formal tone.

speedier than typical

Replaces "faster" with "speedier" and "usual" with "typical", providing a slightly different descriptive approach.

more swiftly than expected

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the increased speed, replacing "usual" with "expected".

at an accelerated rate

This alternative captures the general concept of increased speed, but changes the structure and wording significantly.

more expeditiously than common

Substitutes multiple words for a more formal and somewhat archaic tone.

above the average speed

Focuses on the statistical aspect of exceeding the average speed.

with greater haste than typical

Uses a more descriptive approach, focusing on the "haste" or urgency of the action.

in less time than normal

Shifts the focus to the time taken, rather than the speed itself.

FAQs

How can I use "faster than usual" in a sentence?

You can use "faster than usual" to describe any process, action, or event that is occurring at an accelerated pace compared to its normal rate. For example, "The delivery arrived "faster than usual" this week".

What are some alternatives to saying "faster than usual"?

Some alternatives include "more quickly than usual", "at a quicker pace than normal", or "more rapidly than normal", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it correct to say "fast than usual" instead of "faster than usual"?

No, "fast than usual" is grammatically incorrect. The correct comparative form of "fast" is "faster". Therefore, the proper phrase is ""faster than usual"".

What does it mean when something is described as "faster than usual"?

When something is described as ""faster than usual"", it means that the process, action, or event in question is happening more quickly than it typically does or is expected to.