late more than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "late more than" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to compare lateness, but it lacks proper structure and context. Example: "I arrived late more than I expected this week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"Back home, we always say you cannot be late more than 15 minutes in the office.

The New York Times

Regular bills for window cleaning, gardening and hedgework, paid late more than once.

The Guardian

Those more than two hours late more than doubled in that period to 10.1 percent of all delays.

The New York Times

Special note will be made of flights that have arrived more than a half-hour late more than half the time.

The New York Times - Travel

Of the 33 routes on which flights were late more than 80percentt of the time in May, 27 were United's.

The New York Times

They said that the association illegally withheld commissions and bonuses if employees were late more than three times in a quarter, or if they did not completely follow sales scripts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The trains are always late but annoyingly rarely late by more than 30 minutes, which makes claiming under Delay Repay impossible.

The Guardian - Money

It opened at the end of September, three years late and more than £10m over budget.

Independent

But Hamilton's thrilling late charge more than made up for that.

The Guardian - Sport

"The House of Representatives is three months late and more than a billion short," Earnest said on Tuesday.

The Guardian

Outlook ITV has been making impressive profits of late and more than holding its own in a tough media market.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "late more than" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for clearer and more widely accepted alternatives like "later than" or "more delayed than" to accurately convey your intended meaning.

Common error

Do not use "late more than" when trying to compare degrees of lateness. This construction is not standard English. Use "later than" or rephrase to avoid direct comparison of "late."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "late more than" functions as an attempt at comparative description, aiming to express a greater degree of lateness. However, this construction is grammatically flawed and does not conform to standard English usage. Ludwig AI reports that the phrase is not correct and doesn't convey a clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

34%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "late more than" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While its intended purpose is to express a comparative degree of lateness, it is not a recognized or effective construction. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect. Instead, alternatives such as "later than" or rephrasing the sentence are recommended for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Though examples can be found across various sources, including News & Media and Science, it remains a less preferable option in formal writing. It's best to avoid using "late more than" and opt for more conventional and precise language to ensure your message is clearly conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

later than

Direct comparison indicating a subsequent time.

much later than

Simple and direct comparison of timing.

more delayed than

Focuses on the extent of delay as a comparison.

excessively delayed

Emphasizes the excessive nature of the delay.

more tardy than

Uses a less common synonym for "late" to indicate a comparison.

delayed to a greater extent than

Formal way to express a larger degree of delay.

belated beyond

Emphasizes the lateness beyond a certain point.

considerably later than

Highlights a significant difference in timing.

exceedingly late compared to

Stresses extreme lateness relative to a reference point.

delayed by a larger margin than

Focuses on the difference in the amount of delay.

FAQs

What does "late more than" mean?

The phrase "late more than" is grammatically unconventional and lacks a clear, standardized meaning in English. It is generally interpreted as an attempt to compare degrees of lateness, but it requires restructuring for clarity.

How can I properly compare degrees of lateness?

Instead of "late more than", use phrases like "later than", "more delayed than", or restructure your sentence to use adverbs that express degree, such as "excessively delayed".

Is it ever correct to use "late more than"?

In most contexts, "late more than" is not considered grammatically correct. Standard English prefers constructions like "later than" to effectively compare timing or delays.

What are some alternatives to "late more than" in professional writing?

In professional contexts, use clear and precise language. Alternatives to "late more than" include "more delayed than", "considerably later than", or "delayed by a significant margin". These options ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone.