superior than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'superior than' is not correct and should not be used in written English.
Instead, use the phrase 'superior to' when comparing something to someone or something else. Example: My skills are superior to those of my colleagues.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They prefer to nurse their resentment with superstition, and they would rather feel superior than win.

University of California, Berkeley

Fresh picked asparagus is far superior than asparagus even one day old.

The New York Times

"Virtually any system of redistricting would be far superior than what North Carolina has now".

The Guardian

"I know Jill thinks her committee is more superior than my committee.

The New York Times

And I don't know why they are continuing thinking their culture is more superior than others".

The New York Times

I also find street food often being superior than Michelin starred restaurants.

The New York Times

In terms of physical talent, Cam Newton is far more superior than Luck.

The New York Times

The proposed models perform superior than the single ANN, regression and existing attenuation models.

Computers & Structures

Besides, the decolorization capability of immobilized pellets is more superior than that of P1 mycelia pellets.

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering

Especially, reducing power of water extract was found superior than those of synthetic antioxidants.

Food and Chemical Toxicology

He persevered despite receiving letters such as this one: Whites are far more superior than jungle bunnies.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "superior to" instead of "superior than". Remember that "superior" is followed by the preposition "to", not "than".

Common error

Avoid using "than" after "superior". "Than" is used for comparisons involving comparative adjectives (e.g., better, faster), while "to" is used with "superior" to indicate what something is better than.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "superior than" is used in comparative constructions to express that one entity is of higher quality or greater value than another. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect, as Ludwig AI clearly indicates. The correct form is "superior to".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "superior than" is a common yet grammatically incorrect construction. While it appears frequently across various sources, including science, news, and media, the correct form is "superior to". Ludwig AI flags this error, emphasizing the importance of using the correct preposition. To maintain grammatical accuracy in formal and professional writing, always opt for "superior to" and consider alternatives like "better than" or "of higher quality than". Remember, while the intent is clear, precision in language enhances credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Superior to

This is the grammatically correct way to express that something is better than something else.

Better than

A simpler and more common way to indicate that something is of higher quality or more desirable.

Of higher quality than

Focuses specifically on the quality aspect of the comparison.

More advanced than

Highlights the advanced nature of one thing compared to another.

Outperforms

Implies a superior level of performance or functionality.

Exceeds

Suggests that one thing surpasses the limits or expectations of another.

Surpasses

Indicates that something goes beyond or is greater than something else.

Tops

A more informal way of saying that something is the best or most successful.

Prevails over

Indicates that one thing is victorious or dominant over another.

Ranks above

Expresses that something holds a higher position or status.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "superior" in a comparison?

The correct way to use "superior" in a comparison is with the preposition "to", not "than". For example, "This model is "superior to" the previous one."

Why is "superior than" considered grammatically incorrect?

"Superior than" is incorrect because the adjective "superior" is derived from Latin and takes the preposition "to". The rule applies to other Latin-derived adjectives like "inferior", "prior", and "posterior".

What can I say instead of "superior than"?

Instead of "superior than", use phrases like "superior to", "better than", or "of higher quality than" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference in meaning between "superior to" and "better than"?

While both phrases indicate that one thing is preferable to another, "superior to" often implies a greater degree of difference or a more formal context. "Better than" is more generally used and can apply to smaller differences.