much smoother than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much smoother than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the smoothness of two or more things, typically in a descriptive context. Example: "The new software runs much smoother than the previous version, making it easier to navigate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Honda's is much smoother than Kia's.

The New York Times

Much smoother than a mansion tax of new council tax bands.

Independent

The ride is much smoother than the average S.U.V.'s, again reminding me of the Camry.

The New York Times

This is so much smoother than before and they are increasing their lead all the time.

The Guardian - Sport

In addition, on the nanometer scale the anodic oxide was much smoother than the thermal one.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The examples demonstrate that the optimal boundaries produced by FG ESO are much smoother than those by traditional ESO.

Composite Structures

Wal-Mart's move into Canada has been much smoother than most of its other foreign forays, Mr. Exstein said.

The New York Times

In November, the company's shares went public, with a debut that was much smoother than that of Facebook in 2012.

MIT Technology Review

The DV curves calculated by the proposed method are much smoother than that by the numerical-derivative method.

Electrochimica Acta

The results of the drilling-hole scheme show a similar characteristic, however, the gradients are much smoother than those in the blocking-hole scheme.

Thin Solid Films

Like the examples of Chui and He, and Ron and Shen, the wavelets are much smoother than what is possible in the orthonormal case.

Applied and Computational Harmonic Analysis

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "much smoother than", ensure that you are comparing two distinct items or processes, clearly stating both for clarity. For example, "The new interface is much smoother than the old one."

Common error

Avoid using "much smoother than" in overly subjective scenarios where smoothness is difficult to quantify or measure. Instead, opt for more descriptive language that conveys the intended meaning, such as "more pleasant" or "more refined".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much smoother than" primarily functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to describe the degree to which one thing is smoother compared to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard construction for comparison.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much smoother than" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to emphasize a significant difference in smoothness between two entities, be they physical surfaces, processes, or abstract concepts. While its register is generally neutral, more formal or technical writing might benefit from more precise alternatives. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its prevalence in scientific and news contexts, with less frequent usage in formal or academic settings. When using this phrase, ensure a clear comparison between two distinct subjects to maintain clarity and avoid overuse in purely subjective contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably more seamless than

Emphasizes seamlessness rather than just smoothness.

significantly more fluid than

Highlights the fluidity of the comparison.

substantially less bumpy than

Focuses on the absence of bumps as opposed to the presence of smoothness.

noticeably easier than

Shifts the focus to ease of use or process.

markedly more polished than

Emphasizes the refined or finished quality.

appreciably finer than

Highlights a finer quality or texture.

decidedly more effortless than

Focuses on the lack of effort required.

vastly more streamlined than

Emphasizes efficiency and simplicity in the comparison.

infinitely more refined than

Highlights a higher degree of refinement.

palpably more even than

Highlights the evenness of the comparison.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "much smoother than" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "considerably more seamless than", "significantly more fluid than", or "substantially less bumpy than" to convey a similar meaning with increased sophistication.

What's a good alternative to "much smoother than" when describing user experience?

For user experience, consider alternatives like "noticeably easier than", "vastly more streamlined than", or "decidedly more effortless than". These emphasize ease of use and efficiency.

Is "much smoother than" appropriate for scientific writing?

While acceptable, in scientific writing it may be preferable to use more precise terms, such as "demonstrates a significantly lower surface roughness than" or "exhibits a markedly more uniform texture than" depending on the context.

Can I use "much smoother than" to describe abstract concepts?

Yes, but ensure the comparison is logical. For instance, you might say "the transition was "considerably more seamless than" expected" to describe an abstract process.