greater

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'greater' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare two things when you wish to say that one thing is larger than another. For example, "This mountain is greater in height than the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But there is an even greater number of people, even though they were not enthusiastic about David Cameron or the Tories, who feel relieved that we are not in government.

The Guardian

That doesn't mean getting out of print, but it does require a greater focus of attention, imagination and resource on the various forms that digital future is likely to take".

The Guardian

"Rather than preventing that, it seems they have opted for making inequalities even greater," he said.

The Guardian

But it's not at all clear that the number of jobs created by, say, an expanding solar industry would be greater than the number lost through, say, a shrinking coal-mining industry.

The Economist

"Even as he was encouraging young people to reach for greater heights for themselves, he was working to attain his own educational goals," the school said.

The Guardian

We need more emphasis on team and inter-team working and much greater involvement of frontline staff.

The Guardian

But the greater significance of that day in Dallas – beyond the arguments about the grassy knoll and the Zapruder film – is the effect the killing had on how the Kennedy presidency would be viewed thereafter.

The Guardian

The throngs that had flocked to the river Lagan on Sunday were far greater than the numbers involved in real life street fighting at the edge of the Catholic enclave of Short Strand last Monday and Tuesday.

The Guardian

Joyce says there is a need for greater use of contraception in such a sexualised culture.

The Guardian

Nuno believes Spanish players are unused to that style and its rarity in Spain can thus make its impact even greater.

The Guardian - Sport

A growth in measures against "offensive" speech and greater surveillance of media under the guise of combatting terrorism are also documented in the report, which was written by Shawn Crispin.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "greater" to indicate a comparative relationship between two measurable entities, ensuring clarity and precision in your writing. For instance, "a greater understanding" is more effective than simply saying "a better understanding" if you are emphasizing the depth of knowledge gained.

Common error

Avoid using "greater" when not making a direct comparison. For example, instead of saying "the company achieved greater success", specify what it achieved greater success than, or rephrase to "the company achieved significant success."

Linguistic Context

The adjective "greater" functions primarily as a comparative adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that it is larger, more significant, or of a higher degree than another noun. As Ludwig AI highlights, this usage is both grammatically sound and common in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "greater" functions as a comparative adjective used to indicate that something is larger, more significant, or of a higher degree than something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its use across various contexts, with particularly high occurrence in news and media. When using "greater", ensure you are making a direct comparison to avoid misuse. Consider alternatives like "larger", "higher", or "more significant" depending on the intended nuance. Overall, "greater" is a versatile and widely accepted term for expressing comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

larger

Direct synonym emphasizing size or extent.

higher

Focuses on degree, level, or amount.

more significant

Highlights increased importance or impact.

increased

Emphasizes the act of becoming larger or more numerous.

superior

Implies a higher quality or rank.

enhanced

Focuses on improvement in quality or value.

more expansive

Highlights breadth or scope.

more intense

Refers to a higher degree of strength or force.

more considerable

Emphasizes substantiality or worth.

more profound

Highlights depth or insight.

FAQs

How do I use "greater" in a sentence?

Use "greater" to show comparison, indicating that something is larger, more important, or of a higher degree than something else. For example, "There is a "greater need" for education in the community."

What can I say instead of "greater"?

You can use alternatives like "larger", "higher", "more significant", or "increased" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "greater than" or "more great than"?

"Greater than" is the correct comparative form of "great". "More great than" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "greater" and "more"?

"Greater" is typically used when comparing quantifiable or measurable nouns, while "more" is used with adjectives or adverbs to form their comparative. For example, "greater effort" vs. "more efficient".