larger than anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "larger than anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing outcomes or results that exceed expectations or predictions. Example: "The project's costs were larger than anticipated, leading to budget adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

What they found, King said, was that the effect was larger than anticipated.

Harvard University

As Donaldson, the original architect of MMC, admits in his report: "The number of doctors... was larger than anticipated".

The Guardian

If, as the years go by, the surplus turns out to be larger than anticipated, the politicians will no doubt seek further tax cuts.

The New York Times

Four days later, Mr. Clinton's advisers told him of new projections showing that the deficit was going to be considerably larger than anticipated.

The New York Times

The number was far larger than anticipated and means that if the fund were to be divided equally, each claimant would get no more than $1,000.

The New York Times

The Congressional Budget Office said today that tax receipts this fiscal year through April were $75 billion below its projections, ensuring that the federal budget deficit would be far larger than anticipated.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

The figures for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Oct. 31 showed that Hewlett-Packard had achieved larger-than-anticipated cost savings.

The New York Times

"All the unknowns keep me up at night – the cows ready to calve, more equipment problems, our retail outlets presenting larger-than-anticipated challenges," Mantzaris says.

The Guardian

They are hoping to pay for them not from budget cuts, but from either the tobacco settlement or larger-than-anticipated budget surpluses.

The New York Times

In Whitman College, nine of the 12 lounges have been converted into singles and doubles to help accommodate the larger-than-anticipated class, and Whitman's seminar and game rooms were converted into triples.

Princeton University

When the Vermont senator first visited Portland, while still considered a fringe candidate, huge crowds of supporters forced his campaign to book a basketball stadium to accommodate the larger-than-anticipated crowd.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "larger than anticipated" to describe situations where the actual size, scope, or impact is greater than initially predicted. This is especially useful in project management, budgeting, and forecasting scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "larger than anticipated" when you mean 'ideally larger'. The phrase describes a deviation from a prediction, not a desired state. For instance, don't say 'a larger than anticipated bonus' if you simply mean 'a bigger bonus would be nice'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "larger than anticipated" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is greater in size, amount, or degree than what was initially predicted or expected. Ludwig provides examples where it describes budget overruns, crowd sizes, and the impact of early ART on clinical outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

44%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "larger than anticipated" is a versatile phrase used to describe something that exceeds expectations, particularly in size, amount, or impact. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and widely used in various contexts, including news, science, and academia. The phrase is best used to highlight a deviation from a prior prediction and implies a degree of surprise or unexpectedness. When using "larger than anticipated", ensure it accurately reflects a deviation from a prediction, and consider alternative phrases like '"greater than expected"' or '"exceeded expectations"' depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greater than expected

Uses a different adjective, 'greater', to convey a similar sense of exceeding expectations.

bigger than initially thought

Replaces 'anticipated' with a more conversational 'initially thought'.

exceeded expectations

Focuses on the act of surpassing expectations, omitting the comparative aspect of size.

surpassed forecasts

Specifically refers to exceeding predictions, particularly in quantitative contexts.

more significant than predicted

Emphasizes the importance or impact being higher than what was predicted.

outstripped projections

Implies exceeding formal estimations or models.

beyond initial estimates

Highlights the difference between actual results and initial estimations.

above what was foreseen

Focuses on the unforeseen nature of the excess.

more pronounced than foreseen

Indicates a more noticeable or distinct outcome than predicted.

exceeded preliminary calculations

Highlights the difference between actual results and initial calculations.

FAQs

How can I use "larger than anticipated" in a sentence?

Use "larger than anticipated" to describe a situation where the actual size, amount, or scope is greater than what was initially predicted or expected. For example, "The project's budget overruns were "larger than anticipated" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "larger than anticipated"?

Alternatives include "greater than expected", "exceeded expectations", "surpassed forecasts", or "more significant than predicted". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "larger than anticipated" in formal writing?

Yes, "larger than anticipated" is suitable for formal writing. Ludwig's analysis shows its usage in news, scientific, and academic sources, making it appropriate for professional communication.

What's the difference between "larger than anticipated" and "larger than expected"?

The phrases "larger than anticipated" and "larger than expected" are largely interchangeable. "Anticipated" implies a more specific prediction or calculation, while "expected" is a more general term for what was thought to be likely.