greater than unity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "greater than unity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a quantity that is larger than one. For example, "The amount of rainfall was greater than unity, indicating a higher-than-average precipitation accumulation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The specific heat ratio, (or ), is a function of only and is greater than unity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

210Po:210Pb ratio was calculated to be greater than unity in most of the analysed tissues.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Factor analysis calculations resulted in five factors with eigenvalues greater than unity.

Atmospheric Research

In other words, the value of moment-gradient factor (Cb) is always greater than unity.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

A practical reactor, however, must be designed with k somewhat greater than unity.

Britannica

These secondary reaction zone flames have Damköhler numbers greater than unity and are diffusion limited.

Combustion and Flame

Inaccuracy due to ill-conditioning is explained in terms of powers of greater than unity eigenvalues.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Nielsen (2009) shows that vector autoregression is inconsistent when there are common explosive roots with geometric multiplicity greater than unity.

Yale University

The results showed higher oil recovery with changes in capillary number when the partition coefficient is greater than unity.

Petroleum

The only exposure pathway showing a hazard quotient greater than unity is finfish ingestion for the child.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

It has been known for some time that β can be greater than unity, and in some cases far greater.

Icarus

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "greater than unity" in technical writing, always define the units being compared to ensure clarity. For example, specify "a ratio greater than unity" or "a value greater than unity in meters".

Common error

Avoid assuming that "unity" always refers to the number 1. In some contexts, it might represent a baseline, equilibrium, or a normalized state. Therefore, ensure the reader understands what "unity" signifies in your specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greater than unity" functions as a comparative adjective phrase modifying a noun, typically describing a numerical value, ratio, or index. It indicates that the modified noun's quantity is larger than one, or a normalized baseline. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

News & Media

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "greater than unity" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, particularly in scientific and technical fields, to indicate that a value exceeds one. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. While alternatives like "larger than one" exist, the choice depends on the context, with "greater than unity" preferred for technical precision. Be mindful of the specific meaning of "unity" in the context and avoid assuming it always represents the number 1. It is very frequent in scientific writing, less common in news or business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Larger than one

Replaces "unity" with the numerical value "one".

Exceeding one

Uses a verb to indicate surpassing the value of one.

More than one

Expresses the concept using a simpler numerical comparison.

Above one

Uses a preposition to indicate a higher value.

Superior to one

Implies a higher rank or quality relative to one.

Of magnitude exceeding one

Adds a more formal tone by explicitly stating magnitude.

With a value over one

Specifies that the subject possesses a value greater than one.

Beyond a single unit

Phrases the concept using "unit" instead of "unity".

In excess of one

Uses the idiom "in excess" to convey surpassing the value.

Having a ratio greater than one

Specifically refers to a ratio exceeding one.

FAQs

How can I use "greater than unity" in a sentence?

You can use "greater than unity" to describe a value or ratio that exceeds one. For example: "The signal-to-noise ratio was "greater than unity", indicating a strong signal."

What's a simpler way to say "greater than unity"?

Alternatives include "larger than one", "more than one", or "exceeding one". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "greater than unit" instead of "greater than unity"?

While "unit" can refer to a single entity, "unity" often implies a state of being one or a baseline value. "Greater than unity" is generally preferred in technical and scientific contexts when referring to a ratio or normalized value exceeding one.

In what fields is "greater than unity" commonly used?

"Greater than unity" is frequently used in scientific, engineering, and economic fields. Examples include describing ratios in finance, amplification factors in electronics, or reproduction rates in epidemiology.