more than essential

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than essential" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is not only necessary but also exceeds basic requirements or expectations. Example: "In today's fast-paced world, adaptability is more than essential for success in any career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

What they reveal is more than essential aspects of the individual actors themselves (and the ones in the pictures are among the cinema's virtual divinities); they reveal the essence of the movies as such.

The New Yorker

"When the government shut down we took steps to furlough more than half our staff, because we believed that taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for anything more than essential operations during a shutdown," Sanford said in a statement Monday.

The Washington Post

Other Kenyan and foreign officials have yet to confirm this.During the Kenyan election in March, America and Britain semi-openly opposed Mr Kenyatta's candidacy and later vowed to have no more than "essential" contact with him.

The Economist

Facial events are inevitably linked with human communication and are more than essential for gesture and sign language (SL) comprehension.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Every image in this article comes courtesy of Soul Jazz's more than essential book, which is out now and can be bought here.

Vice

To the rest of the world, this action on behalf of the United States would be seen as nothing more than essential to the protection of American Citizens.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

These can be more expensive than essential oils, but you may be able to dilute them more for the same uses.

WikiHow

Of them, seven pathways only have one essential gene; 82 pathways have less than 50 essential genes; three pathways have more than 50 essential genes.

BMC Infectious Diseases

But with the economy slumping, most managers view these handsets as more extraneous than essential.

The New York Times

If you answered no or if you're unsure, then you may be more involved than essential.

Harvard Business Review

This comes back to another common refrain: the decline in arts education, which makes classical music in particular seem more rarefied than essential.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more than essential", consider the context to ensure the phrase accurately conveys the degree of importance you wish to emphasize. Overuse can weaken its impact, so reserve it for situations where something truly exceeds basic necessity.

Common error

Avoid using "more than essential" to describe something that is merely important or helpful. This phrase should be reserved for situations where the subject is not only necessary but also surpasses fundamental requirements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than essential" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to emphasize a quality exceeding basic necessity. Examples from Ludwig show it describing aspects that are not just important but exceptionally critical. According to Ludwig AI the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more than essential" signifies something exceeding basic necessity, functioning as an adjective phrase to emphasize heightened importance. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in English, and while versatile across contexts, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific domains. While its register leans towards neutral or professional, overuse should be avoided to maintain its impact. Alternatives include "beyond indispensable" or "extremely necessary", offering nuanced ways to express superior criticality. When something truly goes beyond basic requirements, consider using "more than essential" to highlight its significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond indispensable

Indicates something is not just indispensable, but even more so.

extremely necessary

Pushes above the simple state of being 'necessary'.

absolutely paramount

It places extra emphasis on the supreme importance of something.

exceedingly critical

Refers to the urgent, significant need, exceeding what is only critical.

crucial and then some

This phrase intensifies the importance, implying something goes beyond being merely crucial.

incredibly vital

Shows the necessity of something and adds extra weight to that necessity.

vital plus

It's a shorter form emphasizing that something goes beyond vital needs.

considerably important

Emphasizes a thing's value to a greater degree.

highly fundamental

Stresses the base, but adds to that sense of significance.

way more than required

Indicates that something goes far beyond the expectation.

FAQs

What does "more than essential" mean?

The phrase "more than essential" indicates that something isn't just necessary, but exceeds basic requirements or expectations. It emphasizes a higher degree of importance or criticality.

When should I use "more than essential"?

Use "more than essential" when you want to highlight that something is not only necessary but also exceptionally important or vital. For example, "Adaptability is "more than essential" for success in today's fast-paced world".

What are some alternatives to "more than essential"?

Alternatives to "more than essential" include "beyond indispensable", "extremely necessary", or "absolutely paramount". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "more than essential" formal or informal?

"More than essential" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's generally more appropriate for situations where you want to emphasize the heightened importance of something. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when deciding whether to use this phrase.