much higher bar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much higher bar" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a standard or expectation that is significantly elevated compared to others. Example: "The new regulations set a much higher bar for safety compliance in the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"But that's a much higher bar".

The New York Times

"We needed a much higher bar for the kind of companies we would create," he said.

The New York Times

Nicholas Stoller, the director of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek," says, "There's a misogyny in audiences, a much higher bar of required likability for women stars.

The New Yorker

Tad speaks with Nicholas Stoller, who directed "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek," who says, "There's a misogyny in audiences, a much higher bar of required likability for women stars".

The New Yorker

"That's why year in and year out, the guy who wins the Oscar for Best Actor has a much higher bar to clear than the woman who wins Best Actress.

Independent

While the bank will not say what percentage of its checking account customers it expects (or hopes) will be paying new fees, $20,000 is a much higher bar to clear than the direct deposit requirement or the $1,500 to $10,000 minimum balances that the bank currently places on many checking account customers who wish to avoid fees.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The report looked at states' standards on exams and found that some states set much higher bars for students proficiency in particular subjects.

Huffington Post

Juan Miranda A.L. Tout Wars (12 teams, A.L.-only, 5×5) Scott Kazmir  — Immediately you can see how much higher the bar is to clear in order to drop someone in an "only" league, particularly one like Tout Wars where we have unlimited D.L. spots along with four reserve roster spots.

The New York Times

By initially pressurizing the crystals with NO concentrations much higher than 1 bar, we were still able to detect substantial occupation of NO in the catalase crystals.

Biochemistry

The flux values of R2 from FBA (blue bars) was much higher than the ODE (green bars), though remained significantly smaller than R3.

BMC Systems Biology

"They're setting the bar much higher now".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "much higher bar", ensure the context clearly establishes what the previous or lower standard was, to emphasize the significance of the increase.

Common error

Avoid using "much higher bar" when the increase in standards is negligible or unclear. Overstating the change can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much higher bar" functions as a noun phrase where "higher" is an adjective modifying "bar", and "much" intensifies "higher". This phrase typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence, indicating an elevated standard or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "much higher bar" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a significantly increased standard or expectation. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian reveals its frequent use in news, media, and scientific contexts. While alternatives such as "significantly elevated standard" or "more demanding criteria" exist, "much higher bar" effectively conveys a substantial increase in difficulty or stringency. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the prior standard to fully emphasize the change. It's vital to avoid exaggerating the 'higher bar' without proper justification, as overstatement can diminish credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly elevated standard

Emphasizes the degree of elevation more directly than "much higher bar".

considerably increased threshold

Focuses on the point at which a change occurs or a condition is met, highlighting the rise in that threshold.

more demanding criteria

Shifts the focus to the attributes or qualities required, stressing the increased level of difficulty.

stricter requirements

Highlights the imposed obligations or conditions, emphasizing their increased rigor.

enhanced expectations

Focuses on the anticipated performance or outcomes, emphasizing the elevated level of anticipation.

more challenging benchmark

Highlights the standard against which something is measured, stressing the increased difficulty in achieving it.

tougher conditions

Emphasizes the circumstances or factors affecting a situation, highlighting their increased severity.

more rigorous standards

Focuses on the precision, care and attention to detail required, stressing the increased level of stringency.

more difficult hurdle

Emphasizes the obstacle that needs to be overcome, highlighting the increased level of difficulty.

increased stringency

Highlights the state of being strict, precise, or exacting, stressing the increased rigor.

FAQs

How can I use "much higher bar" in a sentence?

You can use "much higher bar" to indicate that the standards, expectations, or requirements for something have increased significantly. For example, "The new regulations set a "much higher bar" for environmental compliance".

What phrases are similar to "much higher bar"?

Alternatives include "significantly elevated standard", "more demanding criteria", or "stricter requirements". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a much more higher bar"?

No, "a much more higher bar" is redundant. Use "a "much higher bar"" or "a far higher bar". Using "more" and "higher" together in this way is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "high bar" and "much higher bar"?

"High bar" indicates a challenging standard, while ""much higher bar"" emphasizes that the standard has been significantly elevated compared to a previous, lower standard. The latter conveys a greater degree of difficulty.