narrower than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrower than expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or outcome that is more limited or restricted in scope than what was anticipated. Example: "The results of the survey showed that the target audience was narrower than expected, leading us to rethink our marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

(See "Ford Loss Narrower Than Expected").

Forbes

JetBlue's shares rose $1 to $5.94, as its loss was also narrower than expected.

The New York Times

H&R Block climbed 5.1 percent to $18.26 after the company reported a quarterly loss that was narrower than expected.

The New York Times

In June, the company warned that gross-profit margins would be narrower than expected, hurt by a drop in demand for major appliances.

The New York Times

An online retailer, Drugstore.com, reported a loss yesterday that was narrower than expected for its fiscal fourth quarter, but projected continued shortfalls for this year.

The New York Times

Priceline.com reported yesterday that it had a first-quarter loss that was narrower than expected, and its sales surged more than sixfold compared with a year earlier.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Home builders were weaker, with Toll Brothers in negative territory, despite a narrower- than-expected second-quarter loss.

Forbes

Defying the slump in the Internet advertising market, GoTo.com, a pay-for-placement Internet search service, reported a narrower-than-expected loss and said it now expected to be profitable ahead of schedule.

The New York Times

Joseph expects company to post a narrower-than-expected loss of 44 cents a share for the fiscal second quarter.

Forbes

One is Bill Thompson, who lost to Bloomberg in 2009 by a narrower-than-expected four points, and who's running again.

The Guardian - Opinion

Gainers included TiVo, which rose 47 cents, to $6.71, after the digital video recording company reported a narrower-than-expected loss in the third quarter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "narrower than expected", ensure the context clearly establishes what the original expectation was. This provides a necessary point of comparison for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "narrower than expected" without providing specific data or context about the initial expectations. Without a clear benchmark, the phrase becomes vague and loses its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrower than expected" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun by indicating that something is smaller or more limited than what was previously anticipated. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "narrower than expected" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that an outcome or measurement is more limited than initially anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's frequently used in news, science, and business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the initial expectation is clearly defined for context. Alternatives include "more limited than anticipated", "smaller than predicted", and "less extensive than foreseen". A key error to avoid is failing to quantify or provide context for the original expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more limited than anticipated

Emphasizes the limited scope of something compared to initial expectations.

smaller than predicted

Focuses on a reduced size or extent compared to what was predicted.

less extensive than foreseen

Highlights the reduced scope or reach of something compared to what was foreseen.

more constrained than projected

Indicates limitations or restrictions beyond what was projected.

less broad than forecast

Stresses the reduced breadth or scope compared to a forecast.

not as wide as anticipated

Directly contrasts the actual width with the anticipated width.

more restricted than estimated

Highlights the presence of more restrictions than initially estimated.

less comprehensive than expected

Focuses on the lack of comprehensiveness compared to expectations.

more concise than planned

Emphasizes brevity and conciseness relative to the initial plan.

less inclusive than hoped

Highlights the exclusion of elements compared to what was hoped for.

FAQs

How can I use "narrower than expected" in a sentence?

You can use "narrower than expected" to describe results, margins, or scopes that are more limited than initially anticipated. For example, "The profit margin was "narrower than expected" due to rising costs."

What's an alternative to saying "narrower than expected"?

Alternatives include "more limited than anticipated", "smaller than predicted", or "less extensive than foreseen", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "narrower than expected" in formal writing?

Yes, "narrower than expected" is appropriate for formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. However, ensure the tone and context align with the formality of your document.

In what situations is "narrower than expected" most commonly used?

"Narrower than expected" is frequently used in financial reporting, election analysis, and scientific research to describe results that deviate from initial forecasts or hypotheses.