more poor than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more poor than" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "poorer than." You can use "poorer than" when comparing the financial status or quality of life of two subjects.
Example: "In this region, many families are poorer than they were a decade ago."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The poor people in 1911 were massively more numerous and massively more poor than they are today.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

ALFRED KAARMANN was born in 1922, to a family "more poor than rich," in Hargla, a southern Estonian village.

The New York Times

Despite its growing wealth, India has more poor than Africa and a state that is largely incapable of serving them.

The Economist

In this part of the city there are more poor than ever, more families in trouble, more and more people who need help but can't find it.

The New Yorker

There is, he said, another part of the city a part where "there are more poor than ever, more families in trouble, more and more people who need help but can't find it," where people sleep in the streets, "in the gutter, where the glitter doesn't show".

The New Yorker

There is, he said, another part of the city — a part where "there are more poor than ever, more families in trouble, more and more people who need help but can't find it," where people sleep in the streets, "in the gutter, where the glitter doesn't show".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"There were far more poor splits than there were good ones," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Address myths about inequality: India has more poor people than Africa.

The Guardian

But there are many more poor people than houses to shelter them.

The New York Times

Second Harvest released a report last year showing that private charities were feeding more poor people than the federal government.

The New York Times

It finds, for instance, that the eight poorest states in India contain more poor people than 26 of the poorest African countries combined.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing levels of poverty, use the grammatically correct form "poorer than" instead of "more poor than". This ensures clarity and adheres to standard English usage.

Common error

Avoid using "more" with adjectives that already have comparative forms (ending in "-er"). For example, using "more poorer" is redundant; stick to "poorer".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more poor than" functions as a comparative, aiming to establish a difference in economic status between two entities. While aiming for comparison, the construction is grammatically non-standard. Ludwig AI identifies the correct form to be "poorer than".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "more poor than" is understandable, it's grammatically incorrect; the standard comparative form is "poorer than". As Ludwig AI highlights, using "poorer than" ensures grammatical correctness and clarity. Although the phrase appears across diverse sources, ranging from News & Media to Science, opting for "poorer than" or alternatives like "less affluent than" enhances precision and professionalism in writing. Therefore, always prioritize grammatically sound alternatives to convey your intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorer than

This is the grammatically correct comparative form of "poor".

less affluent than

This phrase uses a different adjective to describe a state of having less wealth.

more impoverished than

This alternative uses a synonym for "poor" to emphasize a state of extreme poverty.

in greater poverty than

This phrase uses a noun form to describe the state of being poor.

with fewer resources than

This phrase focuses on the lack of available resources as an indicator of poverty.

more disadvantaged than

This alternative broadens the scope to include various forms of disadvantage, not solely financial.

economically worse off than

This phrase explicitly refers to economic well-being.

in a lower economic bracket than

This phrase indicates a lower position in the economic hierarchy.

with less wealth than

This phrases specifies lack of wealth compared to something else.

more indigent than

This emphasizes a state of lacking the necessities of life, often implying public assistance.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "more poor than"?

The correct comparative form is "poorer than". Using "more" with "poor" in the comparative form is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "more poor than"?

Instead of "more poor than", you can use phrases like "less affluent than", "more impoverished than", or "in greater poverty than".

Is "more poor than" grammatically correct?

No, "more poor than" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "poorer than". The adjective "poor" already has a comparative form created by adding "-er".

When should I use "poorer than" instead of "more poor than"?

Always use "poorer than" when comparing the financial status or quality of life between two subjects. "Poorer" is the correct comparative adjective.