more silent than

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "more silent than" is correct and perfectly usable in written English.
You can use it to compare two degrees of silence. For example, "The library was more silent than a graveyard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Just forgive me, if I remain more silent than usual".

The Guardian - Books

Guy was never more silent than when someone talked too much.

The New Yorker

There's nothing in the world more silent than the telephone the morning after everybody pans your play.

The New York Times - Magazine

No photographs, in fact, are more silent than Turner's, and sometimes that silence takes on a metaphysical weight.

The New York Times - Arts

When he came back, he was even more silent than before, and the mother indicated that he was of no account.

The New Yorker

Last Saturday, all three projection pieces were still in operation and the people looking at them were more silent than ever.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Scatter plots also showed more silent genes than active genes in the H3K4/K27me3 group, and more active genes than silent genes in H3K4me3/DNAMe group.

BMC Genomics

More Silent Night than Jingle Bells.

The Guardian - Arts

Actually, ballgame crowds do more silent standing than massacring.

The New York Times

When asymptomatic patients with diabetes present for evaluation, they have more extensive coronary atherosclerosis, lower ejection fractions, higher rates of previous cardiac events, and more silent ischemia than the normal population.

The American Journal of Cardiology

Furthermore, protein coding RNAs are resistant to frame shifts and they have many more silent mutations than other parts of genome; such observations which can be used towards the discovery of protein coding genes are not valid for ncRNA genes.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more silent than", ensure the comparison is clear and the context provides a meaningful understanding of the relative silence. For example, "The empty theater was more silent than a library during exam week."

Common error

Avoid using "more silent than" when a simpler adjective like "silent" would suffice. Overusing the comparative form can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. For instance, instead of "The room was more silent than usual", simply write "The room was unusually silent."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more silent than" serves as a comparative adjective phrase. It functions to compare the degree of silence between two entities, indicating that one is quieter than the other. As supported by Ludwig, this comparative construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more silent than" is a grammatically correct and useful comparative construction, employed to describe a greater degree of quietness between two subjects. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides diverse examples of its use. While its frequency is classified as Uncommon, its versatility allows it to feature across various contexts, particularly within News & Media and Science. When incorporating "more silent than" into your writing, ensure clarity and a meaningful comparison to enhance your descriptive language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quieter than

Suggests a lower volume of sound or a more subdued demeanor in comparison.

less talkative than

Focuses on a reduced propensity for conversation or chatter.

more taciturn than

Highlights a disinclination to speak, often implying a habitual silence.

more hushed than

Implies a greater degree of subdued or muffled sounds.

less vocal than

Indicates a reduced level of verbal expression compared to someone or something else.

more soundless than

Indicates a state of being without any audible noise.

more reserved than

Emphasizes a more restrained or introverted nature in terms of communication.

more reticent than

Indicates a reluctance to share information or feelings openly.

more speechless than

Describes a condition of being temporarily unable to speak, often due to surprise or shock.

more still than

Suggests a greater degree of calmness and absence of motion or sound.

FAQs

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

Use "more silent than" to compare the degree of silence between two subjects. For example, "The forest at night was "more silent than" the same forest during the day because the nocturnal animals were stealthy."

What's a good alternative to "more silent than"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "quieter than", "more hushed than", or "less vocal than". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "more silent than"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "More" is used to form the comparative degree of the adjective "silent", making "more silent than" a standard construction for comparing two levels of silence.

When is it appropriate to use "more silent than" instead of just "silent"?

Use "more silent than" when you want to explicitly compare the level of quietness between two things. If you simply want to describe something as quiet, "silent" is sufficient. "The hallway was "more silent than" a classroom" implies a comparison, while "The hallway was silent" is a simple description.