more than frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than frequent" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used to emphasize a frequency that exceeds what is considered normal or typical, but it is better to use more established phrases. Example: "The meetings have become more than frequent, making it hard to keep up with my other responsibilities."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

By Mark Singer When a fellow-passenger asks Norman Beck, a more than frequent flier, what he does for a living, Beck has two standard replies.

The New Yorker

When a fellow-passenger asks Norman Beck, a more than frequent flier, what he does for a living, Beck has two standard replies.

The New Yorker

Alternatively, if the additional criteria is concerned with penalizing occasional occurrence of large values of reconstruction errors more than frequent occurrence of small to moderate ones, we obtain risk-sensitive FIR synthesis filters.

Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This is certainly more desirable than frequent dosing required by conventional systemic antibiotics or other glycopeptides.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The MSNBC poll was given to more than 13,500 frequent MSNBC.com visitors.

Forbes

America Online will benefit by adding American's more than 38 million frequent-flier members to its network.

The New York Times

Of the vowels, /a/ is more than twice as frequent as any of the others.

Wikipedia

Recently, a comprehensive study showed that highly asymmetric "…transfers from bacteria to archaea are more than fivefold more frequent than vice versa" (Nelson-Sathi et al. 2015).

Genome Biology and Evolution

And he established monthly, rather than more frequent, office visits unless patients violated the rules.

The New York Times - Health

Infrequent, deep water is better than more frequent, shallow water.

WikiHow

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver 70-800%), more frequent than cholangiocarcinoma, and is more frequent in men than in women [ 2].

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and impact, consider using more conventional phrases like "very frequent" or "highly frequent" to ensure your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "more than frequent" in formal writing. Opt for more established alternatives like "very common" or "highly frequent" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than frequent" acts as an adverbial modifier, describing the degree or extent to which something occurs. Ludwig AI indicates that this expression is not standard in written English. The phrase aims to intensify the commonality or recurrence of an event or action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically sound, the phrase "more than frequent" is not a standard or widely recognized expression in English. Ludwig AI notes its non-standard nature. It aims to emphasize a higher-than-usual occurrence rate. Its primary function is as an adverbial modifier, with usage spanning news and scientific contexts, although it is not particularly formal. Due to its uncommon nature, opting for alternatives like "very frequent" or "highly frequent" will likely result in clearer and more impactful communication. Be mindful of this when aiming for a professional or polished tone in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with great frequency

Directly states a high rate of occurrence, maintaining a formal and factual tone.

exceedingly common

Emphasizes a high degree of commonality, suggesting prevalence beyond the expected.

highly recurrent

Highlights the repeated nature of an occurrence, stressing its repetitive return.

noticeably common

Indicates that something is easily observed and widespread, emphasizing its visibility.

unusually regular

Focuses on the consistent and predictable nature of events, implying a deviation from typical irregularity.

more often than not

Indicates that something happens in the majority of cases, establishing a statistical inclination.

very repetitive

Underlines the redundant aspect of events, noting their recurring nature.

quite habitual

Suggests an ingrained behavior or practice, emphasizing the established routine.

considerably repeated

Highlights the significant number of repetitions, adding emphasis to the act of recurrence.

remarkably persistent

Focuses on the enduring nature of something that continues despite potential obstacles.

FAQs

What does "more than frequent" mean?

The phrase "more than frequent" means something occurs with a higher frequency than usual or expected. While understandable, it's not a standard idiomatic expression and may sound awkward to some native English speakers. Using phrases like "very frequent" or "highly frequent" is generally preferred.

What are some alternatives to "more than frequent"?

Alternatives to "more than frequent" include "very common", "highly frequent", "exceedingly common", or "with great frequency". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "more than frequent", but it's not a common or idiomatic expression. While the grammar is sound, the phrasing can sound unnatural or less polished compared to more standard alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "more than frequent"?

While grammatically correct, the phrase "more than frequent" isn't widely used. It might be suitable in informal contexts where you want to emphasize the unexpectedly high frequency of something, but in most cases, using "very frequent" or "highly frequent" would provide greater clarity and be more idiomatic.