higher than zero

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "higher than zero" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving numerical values, measurements, or comparisons, particularly in mathematics, statistics, or economics. Example: "The temperature today is higher than zero, indicating that it is above freezing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A decent £788,000 debut resulted, delivering a screen average (£2,875) that is actually higher than Zero Dark Thirty's (£2,426).

The Guardian - Film

Since no one expects the Fed to keep short-term rates near zero for, say, 30 years, rates on 30-year mortgages remain higher than zero.

The New York Times

If nothing else, it suggested that at one stage in this sordid business, Mr. Silver's tolerance of sexual misconduct was higher than zero.

The New York Times

Readings higher than zero signal expansion among companies in the region, which covers New York, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut.

The New York Times

While the number of exploding phones is definitely too high as anything higher than zero is too high, it's still a tiny fraction of the 2.5m Galaxy Note 7s that were initially shipped.

The Guardian - Tech

Even if the actual number was lower, it was certainly higher than zero, which is the number of voter-fraud incidents recorded in Indiana when the law was enacted.

The New York Times

SOEs' return on assets, a gauge of their productivity, rose from barely higher than zero in 1998 to nearly 7% a decade later, just shy of the private-sector average.

The Economist

"Surely, government investments would have a real return in a 10-year period higher than zero, even with waste and corruption," said Paul L. Kasriel, an economist for Northern Trust.

The New York Times

A proper modality is of degree higher than zero.

SEP

Thus the total power of the EVs is sometimes higher than zero.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

In this case, the number of bits, Bu,v is selected as higher than zero.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "higher than zero" when you need to clearly indicate that a value is above the null point on a scale or measurement. It is particularly useful in technical or formal contexts where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "higher than zero" when you actually mean "significantly higher than zero". The phrase simply denotes a value above zero, and doesn't inherently imply substantial magnitude. Use more descriptive language if the degree of difference matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "higher than zero" primarily functions as a descriptive term, often used to indicate a numerical value that is greater than the null point. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Examples show its utility in diverse fields, including finance, science, and general discourse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "higher than zero" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote values above the null point. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage, which spans a range of formal and technical contexts, predominantly in science and news. While versatile, avoid assuming it implies substantial magnitude unless explicitly stated. For alternatives, "greater than zero" or "above zero" offer similar meanings. Remember to choose the wording that best suits your specific context, maintaining clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greater than zero

Simple substitution of 'greater' for 'higher', maintaining identical meaning.

above zero

Replaces "higher than" with "above", offering a more concise alternative.

more than zero

Uses "more than" instead of "higher than", a subtle change in wording.

positive value

Focuses on the nature of the value being positive, implying it's above zero.

exceeding zero

Implies surpassing zero, adding a sense of exceeding a limit.

a positive quantity

Emphasizes the presence of a positive amount or number.

non-zero positive

Highlights the value is both not zero and positive.

in positive territory

Suggests being in a region or state above zero.

with a positive sign

Indicates a value that has a positive mathematical sign.

not less than zero

Expresses the condition of not being below zero, implying it is either zero or positive.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "higher than zero"?

You can use alternatives like "greater than zero", "above zero", or "positive value" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "higher than zero"?

The phrase "higher than zero" is suitable when you need to specify that a value is above zero on a scale or in a measurement, particularly in technical or formal contexts.

What's the difference between "higher than zero" and "significantly higher than zero"?

"Higher than zero" simply means the value is above zero. "Significantly higher than zero" implies the value is not only above zero, but also considerably or meaningfully so. The latter suggests a substantial difference.

Is "higher than zero" always the best way to describe a value above zero?

Not always. Depending on the context, more descriptive terms like "positive", "above", or "greater than" might be clearer or more appropriate. For instance, in finance, "positive returns" might be preferable to "returns higher than zero".