than was expected

USAGE SUMMARY

"than was expected" is a grammatically correct phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, but it is most commonly used to compare one thing to another and show that it was not as expected or anticipated. Example: The new movie received much lower ratings than was expected by the critics. In this sentence, "than was expected" is used to compare the actual ratings of the movie to what the critics predicted. It emphasizes that the movie did not meet the expectations of the critics.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I believe they had won more ground than was expected.

Stanford University

Now they find the damage harder to reverse than was expected.

The Guardian

It was, according to Susan Bysiewicz, the secretary of state, a better turnout than was expected.

The New York Times

That is still 260,000 barrels a day less than was expected last month.

The New York Times

But Americans are now buying far less gasoline than was expected when the law passed.

The New York Times

That was much higher than was expected, said Guo Liang, one of the researchers.

The New York Times

The income tax will bring in $275.4 million more than was expected.

The New York Times

The answer is that the economy has grown much less than was expected back in 2010.

The Guardian - Opinion

She prided herself on wanting more than was expected of women at that time.

The New Yorker

They found that it glows much brighter in X-rays than was expected for a pulsar of such advanced years.

Harvard University

She only had a grade-school education, but she strove to be more than was expected of her.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "than was expected" when you want to highlight a contrast between a predicted or anticipated outcome and the actual result. It adds a layer of surprise or deviation from the norm.

Common error

Avoid errors in subject-verb agreement. Ensure the verb tense and form align with the subject of the clause. For example, instead of "the results was different than was expected", use "the results were different than was expected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "than was expected" functions as a comparative clause, typically used to indicate a discrepancy between an anticipated outcome and the actual result. It often follows a statement to provide a contrast, highlighting that something differed from prior expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "than was expected" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used phrase that introduces an element of surprise or contrast by highlighting the difference between what was anticipated and what actually occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to fit seamlessly into news articles, scientific research, and academic discourse, though it tends to be more formal. When employing this phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and explore alternatives like "more than anticipated" or "contrary to expectations" for stylistic variation. By considering these insights, you can effectively use "than was expected" to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded expectations

A more concise and direct way of saying that something surpassed what was thought likely.

more than anticipated

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated", emphasizing the element of prior thought or preparation.

different from what was anticipated

Emphasizes the difference between the actual result and the anticipated one.

contrary to expectations

Uses a prepositional phrase to highlight the opposition to what was predicted.

more than initially thought

Highlights the initial assessment versus the eventual realization.

beyond what was foreseen

Shifts the focus to foresight, suggesting the outcome exceeded initial predictions.

to a greater extent than foreseen

A more formal version stressing the degree to which something was underestimated.

less than predicted

Indicates an outcome that fell short of prior predictions, the opposite of the original.

unexpectedly

Uses an adverb to convey that something happened in a way that wasn't foreseen.

surprising outcome

Emphasizes the element of surprise resulting from the difference between expectation and reality.

FAQs

How can I use "than was expected" in a sentence?

Use "than was expected" to compare an actual outcome with a previously held expectation. For example, "The project finished sooner "than was expected"".

What are some alternatives to "than was expected"?

Alternatives include "more than anticipated", "contrary to expectations", or "beyond what was foreseen".

Is it grammatically correct to say "than what was expected"?

While understandable, "than what was expected" is less formal and generally less preferred in formal writing than ""than was expected"". The latter is more concise and grammatically standard.

What's the difference between "than expected" and "than was expected"?

"Than expected" is a shorter, more informal version. "Than was expected" is more explicit and often preferred in formal contexts as it includes the verb, making the comparison clearer.