swiftly than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "swiftly than expected" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "more swiftly than expected"? You can use the corrected phrase when comparing the speed of an action to what was anticipated. Example: "The project was completed more swiftly than expected, allowing us to move on to the next phase ahead of schedule."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

#OscarPistorius May 6 , 201412.19pm BST Closing summary Once again, the court has wrapped up early, after the defence witnesses finished their evidence more swiftly than expected.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Ivanishvili has embarked on the project of prosecuting former officials more swiftly than anyone expected, saying he cannot ignore the public's demand for justice.

The New York Times

He retired from the job in 1985, two years earlier than expected, and it swiftly became evident that he disagreed with the revisionism of the party's policies under Neil Kinnock's leadership.

The Guardian

And Vodafone's operations in Romania and the Czech Republic were swiftly integrated into the group and are now performing better than expected.

The Economist

The favorable currents carried her along so swiftly that Ms. Nyad finished her swim a day earlier than expected, Ms. Stoll said.

The New York Times - Sports

But London has proved more resilient than expected, and there are signs that it will recover more swiftly than the rest of Britain.A swollen financial sector was not the only reason why the capital seemed likely to take a battering in the downturn.

The Economist

Is that higher than expected?

Independent

That was lower than expected.

The New York Times

Attendance was smaller than expected.

The New Yorker

That has happened more slowly than expected.

The Economist

The result was worse than expected.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using simpler and more common alternatives like "faster than expected" or "quicker than expected" for broader audience appeal, especially in informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "swiftly than expected" as it misses the necessary comparative word "more". This omission creates a grammatically incorrect and awkward phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "swiftly than expected" functions as an incorrect comparative construction. As Ludwig AI points out, the grammatically correct form requires the addition of "more" to form "more swiftly than expected". Without "more", the phrase violates standard comparative grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "swiftly than expected" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct comparative form is "more swiftly than expected". While attempts to use the phrase aim to convey that something happened faster or sooner than anticipated, clearer and grammatically sound alternatives, such as "faster than expected" or "quicker than expected", are preferable. While the phrase may rarely occur in news media, adhering to correct grammar enhances clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more swiftly than anticipated

Replaces "expected" with a synonym, maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

more rapidly than expected

Substitutes "swiftly" with "rapidly", providing a slightly more formal synonym.

more promptly than expected

Replaces "swiftly" with "promptly", emphasizing the immediacy of the action.

faster than expected

Uses a more common synonym for "swiftly", making the phrase more accessible and widely understood.

quicker than expected

Similar to "faster than expected", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

more expeditiously than expected

Uses a more formal and less common synonym for "swiftly", suitable for specific contexts.

sooner than expected

Shifts the focus from speed to time, indicating something happened earlier than anticipated.

with unexpected speed

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the surprise element of the speed.

ahead of schedule

A more concise way to convey that something was completed earlier than planned.

at an accelerated pace

Offers a more formal and descriptive way to express faster-than-expected progress.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "swiftly than expected"?

The grammatically correct way to say it is "more swiftly than expected". Alternatively, you can use phrases like "faster than expected" or "quicker than expected".

Is "swiftly than expected" grammatically correct?

No, "swiftly than expected" is grammatically incorrect. The correct construction requires the addition of "more", making it "more swiftly than expected". This follows the standard rules for comparative adverbs.

What does "more swiftly than expected" mean?

"More swiftly than expected" means something happened faster or sooner than anticipated. It implies a comparison between the actual speed or timing and the expected speed or timing. You could also rephrase this as "ahead of schedule".

Are there more formal alternatives to "faster than expected"?

Yes, more formal alternatives to "faster than expected" include "more swiftly than expected", "more rapidly than expected", or "more expeditiously than expected". These options are suitable for professional or academic writing.