more frequently than not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more frequently than not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens more often than it does not happen, suggesting a majority occurrence. Example: "I find myself working late more frequently than not, especially during busy seasons."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

This happens more frequently than not, Martin said.

The Washington Post

They are going to schools because more frequently than not they are perfectly happy, healthy children.

The New York Times

More frequently than not, people go into shock when they hear how valuable some of their objects are.

The New York Times

It's the kind of movie that could go either way with an audience, but the crowd went for it more frequently than not.

The New York Times

But Britons, more frequently than not, cannot shake off the feeling, whether pro-European or not, that the country is somehow being short-changed by the EU; that the economic costs of being a member exceed the benefits.

The Guardian

For as long as many of us can remember -- if we're serious about reading, that is -- we've sat with paper in hand, staring at symbols to which we, more frequently than not, credit far more than mere abiding pleasure.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Therefore, LR-HPV types included in tetravalent vaccine were detected more frequently than viruses not included in this vaccine.

BMC Cancer

In a study by Minisini et al. [ 20], patients receiving taxanes have an increase risk of CIA, but these patients recover menstrual bleeding more frequently than patients not treated with taxanes.

BMC Cancer

Heteronormative paradigms are being questioned more frequently than ever, and not just by gay people.

Vice

This may explain why PCOS patients, despite carrying Hp2 alleles more frequently than controls, did not have reduced serum haptoglobin levels.

Plosone

Parallel losses occurred much more frequently than gains, even not counting the possibly misleading hidden paralogies.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more frequently than not" to indicate a trend or pattern rather than an absolute certainty. It's best suited when you want to convey that something happens more often than it doesn't, but not always.

Common error

Avoid using "more frequently than not" when describing something that is invariably true. The phrase suggests a tendency, not a universal rule.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more frequently than not" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency of an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound expression. It's used to express that something occurs more often than it doesn't.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

39%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more frequently than not" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It indicates that something happens more often than it does not, conveying a tendency rather than an absolute certainty. While suitable for various contexts, it's most prevalent in news, media and scientific writing, maintaining a neutral to professional tone. For informal communication, alternatives like "more often than not" or "usually" may be more appropriate. Remember that overusing the expression in situations where universality is implied constitutes a common mistake.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more often than not

A more common and slightly less formal alternative.

most of the time

A simpler and more direct way to express the same idea.

in most cases

Focuses on the majority of instances or situations.

as a rule

Implies a general principle or common occurrence.

typically

Indicates a usual or expected pattern.

generally speaking

Introduces a statement that is broadly true but may have exceptions.

by and large

Means on the whole or in general, suggesting overall prevalence.

for the most part

Highlights that something is true in the majority of situations.

usually

A straightforward way to indicate common practice or occurrence.

on average

Focuses on the typical or expected value over a range of instances.

FAQs

How can I use "more frequently than not" in a sentence?

You can use "more frequently than not" to indicate that something happens more often than it does not. For example, "I find myself working late "more frequently than not", especially during busy seasons".

What's a simpler alternative to "more frequently than not"?

Alternatives include "more often than not", "usually", or "most of the time". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "more frequently than not" formal or informal?

"More frequently than not" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. For more informal contexts, "more often than not" or "usually" might be more suitable.

What is the difference between "more frequently than not" and "always"?

"More frequently than not" indicates something happens in a majority of cases, but not every time. "Always" indicates that something happens without exception. Thus, "more frequently than not" allows for exceptions, whereas "always" does not.