more of a help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'more of a help' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate that something is providing assistance or support, usually of a greater/increased amount than what is expected. For example: "My professor's detailed feedback was more of a help than I thought it would be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"It's more of a help than any kind of hindrance.

The Guardian - Tech

*The Star-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers poll finds that 84percentt of New Jerseyans believe computers are more of a help than a threat to their jobs.

The New York Times

Now the SEC has a chance to win its seventh straight championship and the caliber of the conference — five teams in the top 10 in the Associated Press poll — is more of a help than a hindrance.

The New York Times - Sports

Even the shortage of props is more of a help than a handicap: when Thomas taps a coffee cup with an unseen spoon, or Vanda cracks an invisible whip, we hear the tinkle and the lash.

The New Yorker

And Republicans note that recent Gallup polling suggests that the country has tilted slightly against abortion rights in the last couple of years, an indication that Mr. Ryan's position could be more of a help than a hindrance in the fall.

The New York Times

Still, maybe it is time to make Jackson more of a help defender, as in, "Help, I just got beat!" SCOTT LAYDEN SEES A LOT OF POSITIVES You want to ask Layden, the Knicks' general manager, if he was talking about the execution in the pregame layup line.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"We have to use our speed and our anticipation and play more of a helping defense," Jason Kidd said.

The New York Times - Sports

Aleppo, the recent target of a big regime offensive, now looks more likely to fall under full rebel control than into the regime's grip.The rebels are getting more of a helping hand.

The Economist

HMA is renovating facilities, adding new cardiology and orthopedic centers and increasing its staffing of nurses to give those docs more of a helping hand at the hospital.

Forbes

While Scotland has policy infrastructure in place, through Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the English regions need more of a helping hand.

BBC

Although women may do better where governments extend more of a helping hand, I find it most stimulating to read about US-American women leaders, especially about immigrant women.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more of a help", ensure the context clearly identifies what the subject is providing assistance to, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overusing "more of a help" when a simpler term like "helpful" or "useful" suffices, especially if the assistance is not significantly impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more of a help" functions as a comparative descriptor, indicating that something provides a greater degree of assistance or support than something else or than previously expected. Ludwig's examples show its frequent use in news and media when referring to technology or societal impact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase “more of a help” is used to indicate something is providing a greater degree of assistance or support than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is readily understood. When employing “more of a help”, ensure clarity in specifying what the subject is aiding to prevent any ambiguity. For alternatives, consider “greater assistance”, “more supportive”, or “significant contribution”, depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a greater assistance

This alternative focuses on the degree of help provided, emphasizing it's a larger amount.

more supportive

This alternative emphasizes the act of providing support instead of simply assistance.

a significant contribution

This alternative refers to the impact of the help, suggesting it's meaningful.

a positive influence

This alternative highlights the beneficial effect of the help provided.

an added advantage

This alternative suggests that the help provides a boost or extra benefit.

a valuable asset

This alternative emphasizes that the help is a resource that can be used to improve a situation.

a boon

This alternative is a more formal and concise way to describe something helpful.

a plus point

This alternative implies that the help is an additional benefit in a given situation.

a benefit

This alternative is a simpler way to express the positive aspect of the help.

of greater service

This alternative focuses on the utility and usefulness of the help.

FAQs

How can I use "more of a help" in a sentence?

You can use "more of a help" to describe something that provides greater assistance than expected. For example, "The detailed instructions were "more of a help" than just a simple overview".

What's the difference between "more of a help" and "helpful"?

"Helpful" is a general term for providing assistance. "More of a help" implies a greater degree of assistance or usefulness in a specific situation.

Which is correct, "more of a help" or "more helpful"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "More of a help" emphasizes the nature of being a help, while "more helpful" directly compares the degree of helpfulness.

What can I say instead of "more of a help"?

You can use alternatives like "greater assistance", "more supportive", or "significant contribution" depending on the specific context.