more frequently than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more frequently than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a greater frequency of something happening than something else. For example, "I exercise more frequently than I eat fast food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mistakes occur more frequently than we'd like.

Harvard Business Review

Buses stop more frequently than subways and are much slower.

Columbia University

Boswell: It actually happens more frequently than you might think.

Yale University

This avoided updating the LCD more frequently than needed.

Cornell University

Patients experience adverse events more frequently than the public appreciates.

The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety

Surrogate endpoints may occur more frequently than their standard counterparts.

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

In general, wealthy families participate more frequently than others.

The New York Times

And some countries' names recur more frequently than others.

The Guardian

Americans switch jobs more frequently than people from other nations.

The New York Times - Magazine

Private somatic CNVs occurred more frequently than private somatic mutations.

Nature

This happens more frequently than not, Martin said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more frequently than" to draw direct comparisons between the occurrence rates of two different events or actions. This phrase clearly indicates that one thing happens or is done with greater regularity than the other.

Common error

Avoid using "more frequent than" when you intend to use the adverbial form. "Frequent" is an adjective, so using "more frequent" is appropriate when modifying a noun, not when describing how often an action occurs. Instead, use "more frequently than" to correctly modify the verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more frequently than" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically a comparative adverbial phrase. It modifies verbs, adverbs, or clauses to indicate a greater frequency of an action or occurrence relative to another. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

39%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more frequently than" is a grammatically sound and widely used adverbial phrase for comparing the frequency of events or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and versatile across various contexts. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Science", this phrase serves to emphasize that one thing occurs with greater regularity than another. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "more often than" or "more regularly than", but remember to use "more frequently than" when precision and emphasis are needed. Avoiding the common mistake of using "more frequent than" when modifying a verb ensures grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more often than

Replaces "frequently" with "often", maintaining the same meaning with a slightly less formal tone.

with greater frequency than

Adds emphasis by using "greater frequency", making it slightly more formal.

more regularly than

Substitutes "frequently" with "regularly", suggesting a more structured occurrence.

more usually than

Replaces "frequently" with "usually", implying a comparison of typical occurrences.

more commonly than

Uses "commonly" instead of "frequently", focusing on typicality rather than sheer repetition.

more often compared to

Changes the structure to use "compared to", offering a direct comparison.

in a higher proportion than

Presents the comparison in terms of proportions, suitable for statistical contexts.

at a faster rate than

Focuses on the rate of occurrence, suitable for contexts involving speed or progress.

to a greater extent than

Emphasizes the degree to which something happens relative to something else.

on more occasions than

Highlights the number of instances, emphasizing individual occurrences.

FAQs

How do I use "more frequently than" in a sentence?

Use "more frequently than" to compare the frequency of two actions or events. For example, "I check my email "more frequently than" I check social media".

What are some alternatives to "more frequently than"?

Alternatives include phrases like "more often than", "more regularly than", or "more commonly than", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "more frequent than" instead of "more frequently than"?

While "frequent" is an adjective and "frequently" is an adverb, "more frequent than" should be used to describe nouns, not actions. To describe the frequency of an action, ""more frequently than"" is grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "more frequently than" and "more often than"?

Both phrases are very similar and often interchangeable. "More frequently than" might be perceived as slightly more formal, while "more often than" is generally considered more casual.