much better known

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much better known" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that the thing you are talking about is more famous or well-known than another thing. For example, "Bob Dylan is a much better known musician than his contemporaries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Frum is much better known.

The New Yorker

She's much better known here".

The Guardian

"He's much better known there now.

The New York Times - Sports

Nationally, Ms Davis is much better known than Mr Abbott.

The Economist

Club Med is much better known than Accor.

The Economist

The other three ballets are much better known.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

There is a much better-known economic relationship, known as Okun's Law, that also seems to have stopped working.

The New York Times

But this year's elections have attracted much better-known candidates.

The New York Times

The next year, Blavatnik aligned himself with a much better-known investor.

The New Yorker

There's one exception: when they play much better and much better-known teams.

The New York Times

If I hadn't been, they'd have chosen a much better-known actor.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "much better known" to clearly indicate a significant difference in familiarity between two subjects. For example, "While both authors are talented, Hemingway is "much better known" than Melville."

Common error

While "much better known" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "more known" or "more famous" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much better known" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it possesses a significantly higher degree of familiarity or recognition compared to something else. This is consistent with Ludwig's examples, showing its use in comparing the popularity of individuals, works of art, or concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much better known" is a very common and grammatically sound comparative phrase used to indicate a substantial difference in familiarity or recognition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and appropriate for use in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general discourse. It functions as a comparative adjective phrase, primarily serving to emphasize the higher level of recognition one subject has over another. While versatile, avoiding overuse in excessively informal writing can help maintain stylistic appropriateness. Its prevalence in sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist underscores its credibility and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far more recognized

Emphasizes the extent of recognition but changes the structure.

considerably more famous

Replaces "known" with "famous", focusing on widespread recognition.

significantly more renowned

Uses "renowned" to highlight a higher level of fame and respect.

substantially better recognized

Emphasizes the degree to which something is recognized.

widely acknowledged

Focuses on the breadth of acknowledgment rather than just being "known".

more highly celebrated

Shifts the focus to active praise and celebration.

more widely appreciated

Emphasizes appreciation rather than simple recognition.

enjoying greater recognition

Highlights the active process of gaining recognition.

receiving increased attention

Focuses on the attention something is getting.

gaining wider acceptance

Emphasizes the increasing acceptance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "much better known" in a sentence?

Use "much better known" to compare the relative familiarity of two subjects. For example, "Though both films are good, the first is "much better known" than the second."

What is a good alternative to "much better known"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "far more recognized", "more widely appreciated", or "enjoying greater recognition".

Is it redundant to say "much better known"?

While "better known" is already a comparative, adding "much" emphasizes a significant difference in familiarity. It's not necessarily redundant if you want to stress the degree of difference.

What's the difference between "better known" and "much better known"?

"Better known" simply indicates that one thing is more familiar than another. "Much better known" emphasizes that the difference in familiarity is substantial or significant.