more likely than

USAGE SUMMARY

"more likely than" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to compare the likelihood of two events happening, with one being more probable than the other. Here are some examples: 1. "I think it's more likely that I'll get the job than you, since I have more experience." 2. "Students who study regularly are more likely to do well on the exam than those who cram the night before." 3. "It's more likely than not that the company will go bankrupt if they don't change their business strategy." 4. "In this scenario, it's more likely for the stock market to rise than to fall." 5. "People are more likely to trust someone with a friendly smile than a stern expression."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Failure is overwhelmingly more likely than success.

Independent

But it is more likely than not.

The Economist

It's more likely than you might think.

University of California, Berkeley

"More likely than not," Horwits said.

The New York Times - Sports

This is more likely than not.

The Washington Post

New Jersey, more likely than not.

The New York Times

It seems more likely than not.

The Washington Post

Women are more likely than men to be retained.

Columbia University

More likely than not, the answer is sí.

Harvard University

But a recession is now more likely than not.

The New York Times

Allison considers this eventuality "more likely than not".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing probabilities, ensure the items being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "It's "more likely than" before," specify what it is more likely than: "It's "more likely than" it was before."

Common error

Avoid omitting the word "than" when using "more likely"; always complete the comparative structure. Saying "It's more likely winning" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "It's "more likely than" winning."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more likely than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to compare the probabilities of two different events or outcomes, indicating that one is more probable or expected than the other. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is a common phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more likely than" is a common and grammatically correct comparative phrase used to indicate a higher probability of one event compared to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans various contexts, from News & Media to Academia, maintaining a generally neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in the comparison to avoid ambiguity and completeness in the sentence structure. Alternatives include "more probable than" or "higher probability than", offering nuanced ways to express relative likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more probable than

Replaces "likely" with "probable", a synonym indicating a higher chance of occurrence.

higher probability than

Emphasizes the statistical aspect using "probability" instead of "likelihood".

more apt than

Substitutes "likely" with "apt", suggesting a natural tendency or suitability.

greater chance than

Uses "chance" instead of "likelihood", focusing on the possibility of an event occurring.

a stronger possibility than

Emphasizes the strength of the possibility using a different phrasing structure.

more inclined than

Indicates a tendency or preference for one outcome over another.

more prone than

Suggests a predisposition or vulnerability towards a particular outcome.

better bet than

Uses an informal expression suggesting a more favorable option.

more predictably than

Focuses on the predictability of one event compared to another.

more reasonably than

Highlights the logical aspect of one event being a better expectation.

FAQs

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

Use "more likely than" to compare the probability of two different events. For example, "It is "more likely than" not that the project will be delayed."

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

You can use alternatives such as "more probable than", "more apt than", or "higher probability than" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "more likely to" instead of "more likely than"?

"More likely to" is used when describing someone's tendency to do something, e.g., "He is more likely to succeed". "More likely than" is used to compare the probabilities of two different events or outcomes, e.g., "Success is "more likely than" failure in this case."

What's the difference between "more likely than not" and "more likely than"?

"More likely than not" implies that the probability of an event occurring is just over 50%. "More likely than" simply indicates a higher probability compared to something else, without specifying the exact percentage. It could be far "more likely than", or just slightly "more likely than".