more severely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more severely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that is done with greater intensity or harshness compared to another. Example: "The new policy will affect employees more severely than the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Workers are more severely affected.

The Guardian

They will be enforced more severely.

The New York Times

The inn's nearby theater was damaged more severely.

The New York Times

Soviet science suffered far more severely behind the Iron Curtain.

The New York Times

Or more severely, "Beware -- you are approaching a taboo zone".

The New York Times - Magazine

The West Bank is even more severely "news fatigued".

The Guardian - Opinion

Generally, comedies are more severely affected than other dramatic types.

The New Yorker

Woods could not remember being tested more severely.

The New York Times - Sports

For example Oman is more severely affected than the UAE.

Independent

Jarboe was tested more severely off the field.

The New York Times - Sports

Pace, a leading mental health charity for LGBT people, has suffered more severely.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more severely" to emphasize a greater degree of impact or intensity compared to a previous state or alternative scenario. For example, 'The economic downturn affected small businesses "more severely" than large corporations.'

Common error

Avoid using "more severely" without a clear point of comparison. Instead of saying 'The problem was "more severely" impacted,' specify what it was impacted more severely than. For example, 'The problem was "more severely" impacted this year compared to last year.'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more severely" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a greater degree or intensity of an action, state, or condition. Ludwig AI shows that it's frequently used to compare the impact of something across different subjects or timeframes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more severely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial modifier to indicate a greater degree of intensity or impact, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts, offering a neutral register suitable for diverse applications. When using this phrase, ensure a clear comparison point to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "more intensely" and "with greater severity". Its widespread use makes it a reliable choice for expressing comparative severity in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with greater severity

A more formal and explicit restatement of the original phrase.

more intensely

Emphasizes the degree of intensity rather than the severity of impact.

to a greater extent

Focuses on the degree or scope of the effect or action.

more acutely

Highlights the sharpness or suddenness of the impact.

more acutely

Focuses on the intensity and suddenness of the effect.

more critically

Implies a greater level of urgency or importance.

in a more pronounced manner

Highlights the obvious or noticeable nature of the effect.

more drastically

Suggests a more radical or extreme change.

more sharply

Emphasizes the distinctness and intensity of the action or effect.

on a larger scale

Focuses on the scope or magnitude of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "more severely" in a sentence?

Use "more severely" to compare the intensity or degree of something with another. For example, "The drought affected the southern region "more severely" than the north."

What are some alternatives to "more severely"?

You can use alternatives like "more intensely", "more acutely", or "with greater severity" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "more severely" or "severer"?

"More severely" is the correct and widely accepted comparative form of "severely". "Severer" is not standard English.

Is "more severely" formal or informal?

"More severely" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends on the surrounding vocabulary and tone.