more than rather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than rather" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not usable in standard English contexts, as it combines two comparative phrases in a way that is confusing. Example: "I would say I am more than rather interested in the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Great Train Robbery, for all its grisly aplomb, now looks like little more than rather old-fashioned thuggery.

The Economist

In general, since the two end nodes of a rectangle must be either a source or a destination of some flow, the number of rectangles in a dual packing is no more than the number of flows in that dual packing (note: some nonend nodes within a rectangle could also be sources or destinations; thus the "no more than" rather than "equal to").

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Somehow tales of the immediate past, mistakes and all, are more interesting than rather familiar speculation about the future.

The Economist

This means they pay 0.5% in stamp duty on properties worth more than £1m rather than the standard 5%.

The Guardian

Possible answers: Not at all, No more than usual, Rather more than usual, Much more than usual.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

He said a 12% marginal rate would now apply to people buying houses costing more than £750,000, rather than £1m.

BBC

Each item is rated on a four-point scale (less than usual, no more than usual, rather more than usual, or much more than usual).

BMC Public Health

Felt unable to cope with difficulties during the past couple of weeks (not at all, no more than usual, rather more than usual, much more than usual).

BMC Psychiatry

The GHQ-28 has a 4-item rescalee scanchoredored (typically) with 'Not at all', 'No more than usual', 'Rather more than usual', and 'Much more than usual'.

BMC Psychiatry

Items have a 4-point scale of "not at all", "no more than usual", "rather more than usual" and "much more than usual".

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Sometimes rather more than half, sometimes rather less.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "more than rather" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "rather than" or "more so than".

Common error

A common mistake is to combine comparative forms redundantly. Using "more than rather" mixes two comparative elements, creating confusion. Simplify your sentence structure for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than rather" functions as a comparative, but its structure is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies that its usage is not standard, making it unsuitable for formal contexts. It's intended to express a greater degree or preference, but it does so in a non-standard way.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more than rather" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal English. Ludwig AI indicates that it is non-standard and can lead to confusion. While it appears in some sources, opting for alternatives like "rather than" or "more so than" ensures clarity and grammatical correctness. Therefore, avoiding this phrase will improve the overall quality and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more so than

Emphasizes a higher degree or extent compared to something else.

rather than

Indicates a preference for one thing over another.

more justly than

Highlights fairness in comparison.

more accurately than

Focuses on precision when making a comparison.

more effectively than

Indicates a higher level of effectiveness.

more appropriately than

Suggests a greater degree of suitability.

more efficiently than

Highlights improved efficiency when comparing.

more skillfully than

Focuses on expertise in comparison.

more successfully than

Indicates a greater level of achievement.

more wisely than

Suggests a higher degree of prudence or good judgement.

FAQs

How can I correctly express comparison instead of "more than rather"?

Use alternatives such as "rather than" to indicate preference, or "more so than" to emphasize a greater degree.

Is "more than rather" grammatically correct?

No, "more than rather" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It combines comparative elements in a redundant and confusing way.

What's the difference between "more than rather" and "rather than"?

"More than rather" is not a standard English phrase and should be avoided. "Rather than" is a correct construction used to express preference or substitution.

In what contexts might I encounter "more than rather", and should I use it?

You might encounter "more than rather" in informal contexts, but it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Always opt for clearer, more grammatically sound alternatives.