help much

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "help much" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or incomplete.
It can be used informally to express a limited degree of assistance, but it is better to use it in casual contexts rather than formal writing. Example: "I tried to explain the concept, but it didn't help much."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That won't help much.

The New York Times

It didn't help much.

The Guardian - Opinion

That didn't help much.

The New Yorker

"It won't help much, anyway".

The New York Times

That answer didn't help much.

The New York Times

That didn't help much, either.

The New Yorker

That doesn't help much.

The New York Times

But it may not help much.

The New York Times - Tech

But apparently it won't help much.

The Economist

Nor do its Visegrad allies help much.

The New York Times

This would probably not help much.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "help much", consider the context and audience. In formal writing, opt for more precise and impactful alternatives like "significantly assist" or "provide substantial aid" for greater clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using "help much" in formal reports or academic papers. It can come across as too casual. Instead, choose phrases like "significantly contribute" or "offer substantial assistance" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "help much" functions as a verb phrase indicating a limited degree of assistance or support. As Ludwig AI reports, it's not standard in written English, but can be acceptable and understandable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "help much" is frequently used, it is not considered standard in formal writing according to Ludwig AI. The phrase is mostly used in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business domains. When aiming for precision and a more professional tone, consider alternatives such as "significantly assist" or "provide substantial aid". However, in casual contexts, "help much" remains an acceptable and understandable way to convey a limited degree of assistance. Use it with awareness of your audience and the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not be very helpful

A negative framing indicating a low level of assistance, opposite of "help much".

assist greatly

Replaces "help" with "assist" and intensifies "much" to "greatly" for a stronger emphasis.

be of great assistance

Emphasizes the level of assistance, making it sound more formal.

provide significant aid

Focuses on the act of providing assistance in a substantial way.

make a big difference

Highlights the impact of the help provided.

offer considerable support

Emphasizes the support aspect of helping, suggesting a more sustained effort.

contribute substantially

Indicates that the help given has a considerable impact or effect.

benefit greatly

Emphasizes the positive outcome or advantage gained from the help.

alleviate significantly

Indicates that something is made noticeably easier or less severe.

improve considerably

Focuses on the resulting improvement from the help provided.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "help much" in formal writing?

In formal contexts, you can use alternatives like "significantly assist", "provide substantial aid", or "offer considerable support" to maintain a professional tone.

How can I use "help much" in a sentence?

You can use "help much" to indicate that something provides a limited degree of assistance. For example: "I tried to explain the concept, but it didn't "help much"".

What's the difference between "help much" and "help a lot"?

"Help a lot" indicates a greater degree of assistance compared to "help much". While "help much" suggests some assistance is provided, "help a lot" implies that the assistance is significant and impactful.

When is it appropriate to use "help much"?

It is appropriate to use "help much" in informal or casual contexts where a high degree of formality is not required. However, in formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives.