more critical than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more critical than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the importance or urgency of two or more subjects, indicating that one is of greater significance than the other. Example: "In this situation, timely communication is more critical than ever."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This work remains more critical than ever.

The Guardian - Opinion

Conversation is more critical than ever.

Harvard Business Review

"We're more critical than the players are," added Ms. Moes.

The New York Times

Husbands don't come much more critical than John Ruskin.

The New York Times

Results are far more critical than glowing words.

The Guardian - Opinion

Personal attributes are more critical than specific qualifications, it seems.

The Guardian

Games were more critical than I would have thought.

The New York Times - Tech

But I am more critical than she is.

Independent

In policymaking, implementation is often more critical than design.

Health Policy

(3) High-school students are more critical than university students, boys are more critical than girls and those from the urban residence are more critical than those from the rural residence in terms of appreciating the morality of their teachers.

International Journal of Educational Development

Nowhere is that change more critical than the Killington/Pico region.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly defines what is being compared. Ambiguity can weaken the impact of the statement.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "more critical than" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "more important" or "matters more" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more critical than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It is used to establish a hierarchy of importance, indicating that one element is of greater significance than another. Examples show it effectively highlights priorities in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more critical than" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative adjective phrase. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and highlights its use in various contexts. It's primarily used to emphasize the relative importance or urgency between two elements, with a tendency towards neutral register, commonly found in News & Media, Academia, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While "more critical than" effectively establishes priorities, it's crucial to ensure clarity in the comparison and consider simpler alternatives in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more important than

Emphasizes greater significance or value, a direct synonym.

more vital than

Highlights the essential nature of one thing over another.

more crucial than

Stresses the decisiveness or criticality of something.

more essential than

Underscores the fundamental necessity of one thing over another.

of greater importance than

A more formal way to express increased significance.

takes precedence over

Indicates that one thing should be prioritized above another.

more pressing than

Highlights the urgency or immediacy of a particular matter.

outweighs

Implies that one thing is heavier or more impactful than another.

supersedes

Indicates that one thing replaces or overrides another in importance.

ranks higher than

Emphasizes a hierarchical order of importance.

FAQs

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

Use "more critical than" to compare the relative importance of two things. For example, "In a crisis, clear communication is "more critical than" ever."

What's a simpler alternative to "more critical than"?

Alternatives include "more important than", "more essential than", or simply "matters more than", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "criticaler than" instead of "more critical than"?

No, "criticaler than" is not standard English. The correct comparative form of "critical" is "more critical than."

In what situations is it best to use "more critical than"?

This phrase is suitable when you want to emphasize that one factor is significantly more important or urgent than another, often in formal or professional contexts.