than I realised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "than I realised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing a situation or feeling to one's previous understanding or awareness of it. Example: "The project turned out to be more complex than I realised."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

He's also much smaller than I realised.

The Guardian

More of those than I realised, perhaps.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So the parallel was stronger than I realised".

Independent

He's actually made far fewer of them than I realised.

The Guardian - Sport

It was very dangerous, more than I realised.

The Guardian - Music

That's a lot harder than I realised it would be".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

It's funny, and I think it's saucier than I realise.

The Guardian

Perhaps Liberty is a more common name than I realise - I have never actually met anyone called it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The funny thing is, though, that no sooner have I been delivered to Bradford's peachy drawing room by the elevator man, than I realise that the person who is really going to enjoy this encounter is her.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No sooner have we settled onto the bed and begun to remove each other's clothes with the clumsy gestures of impatience than I realise Kamal also knows about passivity — yes, he also knows how to remain still, fully awake and attentive, and give himself up to me as a cello gives itself up to a bow.

The Guardian - Books

Now, ten years on, when people are pretending to be excited about the 900th sequel to The Hangover, I'm starting to feel like I owe Mean Girls more than I realise.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "than I realised" to express a shift in understanding after gaining new information or experiencing something firsthand.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses. Ensure that the tense used in the sentence aligns with the timeframe of the realization. For example, "It is harder than I had realised" (past perfect) versus "It is harder than I realise" (present tense).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "than I realised" functions as a comparative conjunction, linking a statement to a prior understanding that has since been revised or expanded. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "than I realised" is a versatile comparative conjunction used to express a shift in understanding or perception. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently employed in a variety of contexts, particularly within News & Media. When writing, use this phrase to convey a change in perspective after gaining new insights. Consider "than I thought" as simpler alternative. Avoid tense errors by ensuring the sentence's tense aligns with the timeframe of the realization. With an expert rating of 4.5, the phrase holds significant authority and consistent usage across reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than I thought

Replaces "realised" with the more common "thought", indicating a prior assumption.

more than I understood

Substitutes "realised" with "understood", emphasizing comprehension.

beyond my expectations

Indicates that something exceeded initial expectations.

more than I anticipated

Highlights that something was greater than foreseen.

more than I had imagined

Focuses on the imaginative aspect of the prior understanding.

more than I had known

Emphasizes a lack of prior knowledge.

to a greater extent than I believed

Formal phrasing that focuses on the degree of belief.

more than I could have guessed

Indicates an inability to predict the true extent.

on a scale I didn't foresee

Highlights the unforeseen scale or magnitude.

to an extent I hadn't grasped

Stresses a previous failure to fully comprehend something.

FAQs

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

Use "than I realised" to compare a current understanding with a previous one, often implying a change in perspective. For example, "The task was more challenging "than I realised"."

What's a simpler alternative to "than I realised"?

A simpler alternative is "than I thought", which conveys the same meaning in a more straightforward manner.

Is it ever incorrect to use "than I realised"?

It's generally correct, but ensure the context matches the past tense of "realised". If referring to a current understanding, "than I realise" may be more appropriate.

How does "than I realised" compare to "than I expected"?

"Than I expected" emphasizes anticipation, while "than I realised" highlights a change in understanding. You'd use "than I expected" when something differs from your prior expectations, and "than I realised" when you've gained new insight.