is more a reflection of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is more a reflection of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is primarily indicative or representative of a particular quality, situation, or characteristic. Example: "The increase in sales is more a reflection of improved marketing strategies than of product quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

What happened there is more a reflection of sickening, random evil than of something people should reasonably fear.

The New York Times

But this is more a reflection of global liquidity than of any sustained move by Chinese investors.

The New York Times

Where "Bitter End" and "Stay" fall short is more a reflection of the pitfalls of the genre than the talents of their authors.

The New York Times - Books

That any of this passes as moderation is more a reflection of the current moment than of any ideal of centrism.

The New Yorker

The two-degree goal offered in the Copenhagen Accord is more a reflection of what seemed politically feasible than what is scientifically advisable.

The New Yorker

One often suspects the number given is more a reflection of the learner's machismo than anything else) cases means you have fewer prepositions to deal with.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"It's more a reflection of the health of the I.P.O.

The New York Times

"It's more a reflection of the depth of our industry teams and the capital of our funds".

The New York Times

Thus, today's low interest rates are more a reflection of distortions in financial markets than of low growth expectations.

The Guardian - Business

It's more a reflection of our feeling that we have an obligation to be part of the civic dialogue.

The New York Times

I had also developed a game plan for the proposal that, in retrospect, was more a reflection of my own inclinations than a rationally thought out method.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is more a reflection of", ensure that you clearly state what the subject is reflecting. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "is more a reflection of" when you intend to express a direct cause-and-effect relationship. This phrase implies representation or indication, not direct causation. For direct causes, phrases like "is caused by" or "is due to" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is more a reflection of" functions as a linking phrase, connecting a subject to its indicative quality or representative nature. As shown by Ludwig, it suggests that the subject is primarily indicative of a certain trait, situation or characteristic, rather than a direct cause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is more a reflection of" serves to highlight that a subject is primarily indicative or representative of something, rather than being its direct cause. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. While it's versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings, it's essential to ensure that it accurately conveys the intended meaning of representation rather than direct causation. By understanding its function and usage patterns, writers can effectively incorporate it into their writing to provide nuanced interpretations and explanations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is more representative of

Substitutes "reflection" with "representative", highlighting the typical or exemplary nature of the relationship.

is more indicative of

Replaces "reflection" with "indicative", focusing on the signal or sign aspect of the relationship.

is a stronger indicator of

Highlights the predictive power of something, suggesting it's a reliable sign of something else.

better reflects

Changes the structure to focus on the action of reflecting, suggesting a clearer or more accurate representation.

is more closely associated with

Focuses on the connection between two things, emphasizing their relationship without implying direct causation.

is mainly due to

Directly states that something is caused by a particular factor, simplifying the expression.

is primarily a result of

Shifts the focus to causation, indicating that something is mainly caused by a particular factor.

is more a consequence of

Changes the noun from 'reflection' to 'consequence', to put the emphasis on the result.

is largely attributable to

Emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship, attributing something to a specific reason or influence.

is better understood as

Suggests a different way of interpreting something, focusing on understanding rather than representation.

FAQs

How can I use "is more a reflection of" in a sentence?

Use "is more a reflection of" to suggest that something is indicative or representative of something else. For instance, "The company's success is more a reflection of its marketing strategy than its product quality".

What phrases are similar to "is more a reflection of"?

Alternatives include "is more indicative of", "is more representative of", or "better reflects", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "is more a reflection of" formal or informal?

"Is more a reflection of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "is more a reflection of" and "is caused by"?

"Is more a reflection of" implies that something represents or indicates something else, while "is caused by" indicates a direct causal relationship. The phrase "is more a reflection of" suggests representation, whereas "is caused by" asserts direct causation.