more than initially anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than initially anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing outcomes or results that exceed your original expectations or predictions. Example: "The project's success was more than initially anticipated, leading to additional funding and support."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Additional scans revealed the cancer had spread more than initially anticipated.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Analysts still expect e-commerce to grow, if perhaps more slowly than initially anticipated.

The New York Times

The occurrence of complex non-planar fracture network is much more common than initially anticipated, especially in unconventional reservoirs6.

Nature

This suggests that point mutations that reduce fitness and in vivo replication may be more stable than initially anticipated, which may alleviate some concerns regarding rationally designed MD vaccines based upon point mutations.

Virus Research

Originally, VEGF was thought to specifically target endothelial cells (ECs) but it is now clear that many stromal cells also respond to VEGF signaling, making anti-VEGF therapy more complex than initially anticipated.

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews

That last bit is a bit confusing, but it does signal that its international business seems to be more robust than initially anticipated.

TechCrunch

With a deep understanding of the CO2-formation fluid displacement process, the CO2 rock interactions intervene in more areas than initially anticipated, whereby certain areas have attracted less attention to date.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

Given that a massive wildfire has now consumed a significant part of Fort Mac and a surrounding area 50percentt larger than Toronto, doing the book might be, shall we say, more complicated than initially anticipated.

Vice

The additional loans represent a small percentage of the remaining financial rescue fund approved last fall, said Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-Mich)., who noted that some banks also have needed more money than initially anticipated because of the worsening recession.

Los Angeles Times

Wide Receiver 1. Demaryius Thomas 14.9 FPs (DEN vs. IND) - Though not the biggest beneficiary of Wes Welker's suspension, Thomas, who was already our second best wide receiver for the fantasy season, should get one or two more targets than initially anticipated to top all receivers in fantasy points.

Huffington Post

Whereas it has been always assumed that tumorigenic processes could be positively and negatively regulated by GEFs and GAPs/RhoGDIs, respectively, recent data have revealed that this regulatory picture is more complex than initially anticipated.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more than initially anticipated" to emphasize a surprising or unexpected degree of impact, complexity, or size. This phrase works well when you want to highlight the difference between initial expectations and the eventual reality.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, "more than initially anticipated" can sometimes sound less formal. In highly technical or academic writing, consider alternatives like "exceeded initial projections" or "proved more extensive than predicted" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than initially anticipated" functions as an adverbial modifier, often used to describe the extent or degree to which something has occurred, exceeding prior expectations. As Ludwig AI explains, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more than initially anticipated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that something has exceeded expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. As evidenced by a multitude of examples, it commonly appears in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "exceeded initial expectations". The phrase serves to emphasize surprise at the scale or impact of an event, development, or outcome. Always make sure the context and chosen tone are aligned when you consider using this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded initial expectations

Focuses on the surpassing of expectations, similar to the original phrase.

greater than expected

A more concise way of expressing that something was larger or more significant than predicted.

beyond original forecasts

Emphasizes that the outcome went further than what was originally predicted.

surpassed initial projections

Highlights the surpassing of a planned estimate or prediction.

more robust than foreseen

Indicates a stronger or more resilient outcome than what was predicted.

larger in scope than predicted

Suggests the extent or scale of something was greater than the initial estimation.

more complex than initially thought

Emphasizes the intricate nature being greater than what was first assessed.

proved to be more extensive

Highlights that something turned out to be larger or more far-reaching than first assessed.

outstripped original estimates

Indicates that something has gone beyond the originally set estimation.

turned out to be much greater

Indicates the final amount was notably larger than initially thought.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "more than initially anticipated" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "exceeded initial expectations", "proved more extensive than predicted", or "surpassed initial projections".

Is "more than initially anticipated" suitable for scientific writing?

Yes, it can be, but depending on the specific context, more precise and technical alternatives may be preferable. For instance, consider using "greater than expected" or "larger in scope than predicted".

What's a simpler way to say "more than initially anticipated"?

You could use phrases like "bigger than expected" or "greater than expected" for a more straightforward meaning. These options are less formal but still convey the same basic idea.

When should I use "more than initially anticipated" versus "less than initially anticipated"?

Use "more than initially anticipated" when the outcome or result is greater or more significant than what was originally expected. Conversely, use "less than initially anticipated" when the outcome is smaller or less significant than the original expectation.