much stiffer than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much stiffer than" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is often used to compare two things which are different as relating to stiffness. For example, "This shirt material is much stiffer than that one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

The terms are much stiffer than those imposed by the creditors over the past five years.

The Guardian - Business

Vauxhall is promising sporty handling- the Cascada is much stiffer than the company's previous open-topped cars and will also use the HiPerStrut front suspension set-up first seen on the Insignia VXR.

Independent

Competition from South Korea for Japan's top companies is much stiffer than that from China: Samsung in electronics, POSCO in steel, Hyundai in cars and ships have all given Japanese firms more pause for thought than have Chinese companies.

The Economist

"To address the specific concerns of some countries, we had to accept some changes," said José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, whose draft legislation on the package was much stiffer than that agreed yesterday.

The Guardian

At both times, TEVGs were much stiffer than native tissue in both directions.

Journal of Biomechanics

It is assumed that the substrates are much stiffer than the intermediate layer.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

In fact, it forms a very much stiffer meringue than the white of any chicken's egg..."....

The New Yorker

Mr. Lozano, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party this year, faced much stiffer competition than he had in 2010.

The New York Times

"The penalties are much stiffer now than they were a year ago and whip use is much reduced," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

By that time, Microsoft will be launching the next generation of its Xbox, which could pose much stiffer competition than the original.

The Economist

And the judge, in imposing a much stiffer sentence than federal prosecutors had initially agreed to, called the crime "as incomprehensible as it is unconscionable".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing materials, specify the property you are measuring (e.g., tensile strength, flexural modulus) to provide a clearer comparison using "much stiffer than".

Common error

Avoid using "much stiffer than" when comparing abstract concepts like opinions or arguments; instead, consider phrases like "much stronger than" or "much more compelling than".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much stiffer than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, used to describe the degree to which one object or concept exhibits greater stiffness compared to another. Ludwig AI confirms its common use in comparisons.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much stiffer than" serves as a comparative adjective phrase to express that something is significantly more rigid than another. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and is commonly found in both scientific and journalistic contexts. When writing, ensure the comparison is appropriate and precise, avoiding misuse in non-material contexts, and specifying measurable properties where possible. The frequent presence of "much stiffer than" in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its acceptance in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably more rigid than

Emphasizes the greater degree of rigidity using "considerably" instead of "much".

significantly more inflexible than

Replaces "stiffer" with "inflexible", highlighting the lack of flexibility in the comparison.

noticeably more unyielding than

Uses "unyielding" to convey the resistance to bending, adding a stronger connotation.

appreciably tougher than

Shifts the focus to "toughness" as the comparative attribute.

markedly more firm than

Employs "firm" instead of "stiff", suggesting a solid and stable quality.

substantially harder than

Replaces "stiffer" with "harder", which can be applicable in certain material contexts.

decidedly more tense than

Focuses on "tension" as the comparative element, suitable for specific scenarios.

considerably more challenging than

Shifts the comparison to the level of difficulty or challenge.

noticeably more severe than

Changes the attribute to "severity", relevant in contexts like rules or penalties.

markedly more resistant than

Highlights resistance as the quality being compared.

FAQs

How can I use "much stiffer than" in a sentence?

You can use "much stiffer than" to compare the rigidity of two objects, such as "The new material is "much stiffer than" the old one".

What are some alternatives to saying "much stiffer than"?

Alternatives include "considerably more rigid than", "significantly more inflexible than", or "noticeably more unyielding than", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "more stiffer than" instead of "much stiffer than"?

No, "more stiffer than" is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express the comparison is using ""much stiffer than"" or "stiffer than".

When is it appropriate to use "much stiffer than"?

It is appropriate to use ""much stiffer than"" when you want to emphasize a significant difference in the rigidity or inflexibility of two items or materials.