more confusing than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more confusing than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are comparing two things and one of them is more confusing than the other. For example: "The government's tax regulations are more confusing than anything I've ever seen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

President Obama's explanations have, sadly, been more confusing than inspiring.

The New Yorker

Many people said it was more confusing than provocative.

The New York Times

But some find the redesign more confusing than the code.

The New York Times

THE SETUP -- The sport sounds more confusing than it is.

The New York Times - Sports

Now, the race is more confusing than ever.

The New York Times - Sports

This is worse: a distortion in relative prices is more confusing than a uniform upward drift.

The Economist

SCAD was short for suspended catch air device — a phrase more confusing than its acronym.

The New Yorker

Manchester's "clumps" were, in fact, so idiosyncratic that Reid found them more confusing than edifying.

The New York Times - Magazine

To those less than fluent in gadgetspeak, it may seem more confusing than it really is.

The New York Times - Tech

The election will come at a time when contraction is more confusing than concrete.

The New York Times - Sports

The wall texts are more confusing than they need to be.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more confusing than", ensure that both subjects being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "This is more confusing than it should be", specify what "this" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "more confusing than" to compare inherently incomparable subjects. For example, saying "Math is more confusing than love" is a subjective statement that lacks a clear basis for comparison and could come off as uninformative or overly broad.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more confusing than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one thing possesses a higher degree of confusion compared to another. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to draw comparisons between different subjects, emphasizing the relative difficulty in understanding or comprehending them.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more confusing than" serves as a common and grammatically sound comparative adjective phrase, used to express that one subject is more difficult to understand or causes greater bewilderment when compared to another. Ludwig AI analysis confirms the phrase's validity and widespread use across diverse sources, including news media, science, and general writing. To ensure clarity, specify the subjects being compared and avoid using it to compare inherently incomparable things. Related phrases include "less straightforward than" and "more perplexing than". Remember, clear language is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less clear than

Emphasizes a lack of clarity in comparison.

more unintelligible than

Highlights a greater inability to be understood.

more perplexing than

Highlights a greater degree of bewilderment or puzzlement.

more convoluted than

Indicates a higher degree of winding and intricate complexity.

more baffling than

Focuses on the higher degree of something being difficult to comprehend or explain.

more opaque than

Suggests a greater lack of transparency or clarity, making something difficult to understand.

murkier than

Suggests a greater degree of obscurity and lack of clarity, often in a figurative sense.

less straightforward than

Indicates a lower level of directness or simplicity in comparison to something else.

more complex than

Emphasizes a higher level of intricacy and complication.

harder to grasp than

Focuses on the difficulty in understanding or comprehending something.

FAQs

How can I use "more confusing than" in a sentence?

Use "more confusing than" to compare two distinct subjects, highlighting that one is more difficult to understand than the other. For example, "The instructions for the new software are "more confusing than" the previous version".

What are some alternatives to saying "more confusing than"?

Alternatives include "less straightforward than", "more perplexing than", or "more opaque than", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "more confusing than" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the specific context. In highly formal or technical writing, opt for precise language that directly identifies the source of confusion rather than simply stating something is "more confusing". Using a "more unintelligible than" approach may lead to an oversimplification of the comparison.

What makes something "more confusing than" something else?

Factors contributing to something being "more confusing than" something else can include greater complexity, lack of clear organization, unfamiliar terminology, or contradictory information. The comparison is subjective but should be based on identifiable characteristics.