poorer than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorer than" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used in comparative sentences to show that one thing or person has a lower level of wealth or resources than another thing or person. Example: John is poorer than his brother, but he is still very happy with his simple life. In this sentence, "poorer than" is used to compare the wealth of John and his brother. It shows that John has less money or resources than his brother. Example: The economy of the country is getting poorer than it was last year. In this sentence, "poorer than" is used to compare the economic status of the country in the present to its status in the past. It indicates that the country's economy has declined or worsened.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's Not Your Imagination: Millennials Are Poorer Than Their Parents, Investigation Finds.

Vice

Palestinians tend to be poorer than Syrians.

Independent

None was poorer than Sprewell's.

The New York Times - Sports

Miami is the poorest big city in the United States -- poorer than Newark, poorer than Detroit, poorer than any city with a population of 250,000 or more.

The New York Times

'Our friends were poorer than us, messy and tired.

The Guardian

Also, many people are far poorer than these workers.

The New York Times

"But no one was richer or poorer than us.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, it is much poorer than India, its neighbour.

The Guardian

The counties, neighbors, are poorer than most in the state.

The New York Times

You probably don't understand, since you're poorer than us.

The New Yorker

Most of those countries are poorer than Greece.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the economic status of groups, use "poorer than" with specific data or context to support the comparison and avoid generalizations. For example, "Families in this district are 20% poorer than the national average, based on median income data."

Common error

Avoid using "poorer than" in vague or unsupported comparisons. Instead of saying "They are poorer than us", specify who "they" are and provide context. A better phrasing might be "Small business owners in rural areas are often poorer than their urban counterparts due to limited access to capital and resources."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorer than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one entity possesses fewer financial resources or a lower economic status compared to another, as evidenced by various examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

38%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "poorer than" serves as a common comparative adjective phrase used to indicate a lower financial status relative to something else. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. Our analysis revealed that it is most prevalent in news and media outlets and scientific publications and less common in formal business settings. When employing "poorer than", strive for clarity and provide specific context to avoid vague or unsupported comparisons. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives like "less affluent than" or "less economically advantaged than" in professional or scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less affluent than

Uses a more formal vocabulary to indicate a lower level of wealth.

less wealthy than

Directly compares the wealth of two entities.

not as rich as

Employs a more common and straightforward comparison of riches.

of lower means than

Emphasizes that resources or financial means are less.

economically disadvantaged compared to

Highlights the economic disadvantage relative to another entity.

in greater financial need than

Shifts the focus to the relative need for financial support.

less privileged than

Broader term encompassing advantages beyond just financial wealth.

more deprived than

Stresses the state of being deprived of essential resources.

worse off financially than

Focuses on the overall financial condition being inferior.

suffering more economic hardship than

Highlights the presence of economic difficulties and suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "poorer than" in a sentence?

You can use "poorer than" to compare the financial status of two entities. For example, "The average family in this town is "poorer than" the average family in the state."

What are some alternatives to saying "poorer than"?

Alternatives include "less affluent than", "less wealthy than", or "not as rich as", depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "poorer than" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "poorer than" may sometimes sound informal. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "less economically advantaged than" or "of lower socioeconomic status than".

What's the difference between "poorer than" and "less fortunate than"?

"Poorer than" specifically refers to financial status, while "less fortunate than" is a broader term encompassing various types of disadvantage, including but not limited to financial.