not much greater

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not much greater" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are comparing two amounts that are close in size and one is slightly greater than the other. For example, "The profits this year are not much greater than last year's."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Effort: The project should involve effort comparable to (or not much greater than) earlier assignments.

Cornell University

For birds at higher elevations, maximum power was not much greater than their minimum.

The New York Times

Its circumference is not much greater than that of a pine needle.

The New Yorker

The investment to lay hundreds of fibers is not much greater than the cost of laying a single strand.

The New York Times

That's a lot of ordnance for a place with a population not much greater than Norfolk and Suffolk combined.

The Guardian

Two seasons ago, when they were playing at Wycombe, Wasps' average crowd was not much greater and they were heavily in debt.

The Guardian - Sport

So could the fact that the recurrence risk for a high score was not much greater than for a low score.

The New York Times

Now the likelihood of England squaring the series is not much greater than Sir Ian Botham voting "remain" in any second referendum.

The Guardian - Sport

In television terms, internationals aside, it probably attracts an audience not much greater than that enthralled by carpet bowls from sunny Coatbridge.

The Guardian - Sport

Year-on-year this is an increase of 3.3 per cent, although it should be noted that is not much greater than iOS's growth of 3.1 per cent.

Independent

They said they had concluded that the exposure to immigration agents on the walk was not much greater than what they faced in their daily lives.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "not much greater" with specific units of measurement to give context to the comparison. For example, 'The increase in sales was not much greater, only about 50 units more than last quarter.'

Common error

Avoid using "not much greater" when the difference is actually significant in context. Misusing the phrase can undermine the importance of the increase, making it seem less impactful than it is. If the difference influences a critical decision, it's best to quantify the difference exactly.

Linguistic Context

Modifier of Comparison: The phrase "not much greater" functions as a comparative modifier, usually describing a noun or quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in scenarios where two values are being compared, and one is only slightly larger than the other. It serves to temper the degree of difference.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not much greater" is a versatile phrase used to express that two values are close in magnitude, with one being only slightly larger than the other. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage and indicates that it is generally applicable across many registers, from formal to informal. It is commonly found in "News & Media" and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the small difference being described is genuinely insignificant within the given context. Alternatives such as "only slightly larger" or "marginally bigger" can be used for greater formality. This phrase's effectiveness lies in its ability to downplay differences and emphasize proximity between values.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only slightly larger

Replaces "not much greater" with a more direct comparison of size.

marginally bigger

Indicates a small difference in size using the term 'marginally'.

a bit larger

Uses a more informal tone to express a slight difference in size.

somewhat bigger

Emphasizes a moderate difference, though still relatively small.

not significantly larger

Highlights the lack of significant difference between the quantities.

barely exceeds

Focuses on the act of exceeding by a small amount.

hardly greater

Implies that the difference is so small it's almost negligible.

just a little bigger

Uses simple language to denote a minimal increase in size.

a shade larger

Expresses that the difference is subtle and barely noticeable.

fractionally larger

Indicates a tiny, almost immeasurable increase.

FAQs

How can I use "not much greater" in a sentence?

You can use "not much greater" to compare two values where one is slightly larger than the other. For example, "The second dose wasn't "significantly more effective" than the first dose".

What's a more formal way to say "not much greater"?

In a formal setting, you might use "only slightly larger" or "marginally bigger" to maintain a higher level of precision and sophistication.

Is it ever incorrect to use "not much greater"?

Using "not much greater" can be misleading if the actual difference is significant in context. Always ensure the difference is genuinely small enough that the phrase accurately reflects the comparison.

What are some alternatives to "not much greater" for emphasizing a small difference?

To emphasize a small difference, consider using phrases such as "just a little bigger", "a shade larger", or "fractionally larger", which all indicate minimal increases.