heightened than

USAGE SUMMARY

"heightened than" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "higher than" or "greater than." Here are some examples of how to use these phrases in sentences: - She climbed to a height greater than anyone else in her mountaineering group. - The skyscraper was higher than any building in the city. - His excitement for the concert was heightened than ever before when he heard his favorite band was going to perform. - The intensity of the storm was heightened than what the weather forecast predicted.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Upon her return, the odyssey continued, the search for meaning, for her place in the larger world, more heightened than before.

The New York Times - Sports

The producers liked Lockington's contribution to the score as it was more heightened than it was in the first season.

Wikipedia

The side effects of chemo come into play: the taste in my mouth makes it feel like I've been feeding on corpses, nausea is a given, and my sense of smell gets more heightened than a hunting hound's.

Vice

The side effects of chemo come into play; the taste in my mouth feels like I've been feeding on corpes, nausea is a given and my sense of smell gets more heightened than a hunting hound's.

Vice

The side effects of chemo come into play: the taste in my mouth feels like I've been feeding on corpeses, nausea is a given, and my sense of smell gets more heightened than a hunting hound's.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Ironically, it is precisely this attempt at inclusivity that seems to have heightened rather than reduced tensions.

The Guardian

This could have been problematic, because a mismanaged conflict resolution process would have heightened rather than diminished tensions.

The Guardian

Taste her super-plump oysters poached in Pernod, which retain all their brininess, heightened rather than masked by the anise flavor.

The New York Times - Arts

So accurately and aggressively was Federer serving that the tension was heightened rather than alleviated as Murray performed a high wire act.

The Guardian - Sport

I get his point, but if central banks are dangerously overexposed to the financial sector, then surely the need to prevent big losses is heightened rather than reduced, correct?

The Economist

The Klitschkos' hard-nosed promoter, Bernd Bönte, told me as we left the stadium around 2am that the brawl heightened rather than wrecked the possibility of either or both of them fighting either or both of his fighters.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing levels of intensity or states, opt for grammatically sound phrases like "higher than" or "more intense than" instead of the non-standard "heightened than".

Common error

Avoid using the past participle form of a verb (e.g., "heightened") directly in comparative constructions with "than". This often leads to grammatically incorrect and awkward phrasing. Instead, use comparative adjectives or adverbs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heightened than" functions as an attempted comparative, aiming to express a greater degree of something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect and not standard English. The examples provided by Ludwig show the phrase in use, but this doesn't validate its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

40%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "heightened than" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. While Ludwig provides examples of its occurrence, these instances do not establish it as a standard or correct English phrase. As Ludwig AI points out, using alternative comparative forms such as "higher than" or "more intense than" ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy. When aiming to express comparison, it's essential to opt for well-established and grammatically sound constructions to effectively convey the intended meaning across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

higher than

Uses the correct comparative form of "high" instead of the past participle "heightened".

greater than

Offers a more general comparative term applicable to various contexts where "heightened" might be intended.

more intense than

Replaces "heightened" with "intense", providing a clearer and more direct comparative.

more heightened than

Adds "more" for emphasis, but still relies on the somewhat awkward "heightened" in a comparative sense.

elevated above

Uses "elevated" to suggest a rise in status, level, or intensity relative to something else.

intensified beyond

Shifts the focus to the process of intensification, using "beyond" for comparison.

surpassed by

Indicates that something has gone beyond a previous limit or expectation.

improved beyond

Focuses on the enhancement aspect, indicating a state better than a previous one.

exceeded that of

Presents a formal way to express surpassing a certain level or degree.

advanced past

Suggests progress and exceeding a previous stage or condition.

FAQs

What's a correct way to say something is more intense?

Use phrases like "more intense than", "higher than", or "greater than" depending on the specific context. For example, "The pressure was "more intense than" before".

Is it ever correct to use "heightened" in a comparison?

While "heightened" can describe a state, it's rarely used directly with "than". It's better to say something is "more heightened" or use a different adjective altogether. "His awareness was "more heightened" after the incident".

What are some alternatives to "heightened" when describing an emotion?

Consider using words like "increased", "amplified", or "intensified". For example, instead of "heightened anxiety", you could say "increased anxiety".

Which is correct: "heightened than" or "more heightened than"?

"More heightened than" is grammatically closer to correctness, but it's often better to rephrase the sentence for clarity. A better alternative is "higher than" or similar comparative adjectives.