than we expected

USAGE SUMMARY

"than we expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something has happened more quickly, favorably, easily, or more successfully than what you anticipated. For example: The project was completed much faster than we expected.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're out sooner than we expected".

The New York Times - Sports

Those are broader demographics than we expected".

The New York Times

"It came even faster than we expected.

The Guardian

Perhaps it is simpler than we expected".

The New York Times - Science

We saw mud sooner than we expected.

The New York Times - Travel

"It's better than we expected," he said.

The New York Times

It's a tougher question than we expected.

The New York Times

Just more so than we expected.

The Guardian - Film

It's just happening earlier than we expected".

The New York Times

"The reality was better than we expected".

The New York Times

"It's bigger and more profound than we expected".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "than we expected" to clearly communicate a deviation from an anticipated outcome, ensuring the context provides a reference point for what was initially expected.

Common error

Avoid using "than we expected" without clearly establishing what the 'we' refers to and what the initial expectation was. Ambiguity can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "than we expected" typically functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate a comparison against a prior expectation. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a phrase widely used across various contexts to signal a deviation from the anticipated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "than we expected" is a versatile phrase used to express that an outcome differed from a prior anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts. It functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, conveying surprise or revised understanding. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for news, business, and even scientific writing. Common alternatives include "than we planned" or "than we anticipated". The phrase enjoys widespread use, particularly in news and media sources. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the initial expectation to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

than we had anticipated

Almost perfectly interchangeable with "than we expected" but slightly more formal.

than we planned

Focuses on a deviation from a pre-established plan.

than we originally planned

Similar to "than we planned", but stresses the initial nature of the plan.

than we presumed

Highlights an assumption that turned out to be inaccurate.

than we imagined

Emphasizes a difference between reality and what was conceived in the mind.

than we previously anticipated

Highlights a change from a prior expectation.

than we suspected

Implies something was different from what was initially believed to be true.

than we projected

Indicates a discrepancy between a forecast and the actual outcome.

than we speculated

Suggests the outcome differed from a reasoned conjecture.

than we hoped for

Focuses on a difference between the actual outcome and a desired result.

FAQs

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

Use "than we expected" to show a comparison between an actual outcome and a previous anticipation. For example, "The project was completed faster "than we expected"".

What are some alternatives to using "than we expected"?

Alternatives include phrases like "than we planned", "than we anticipated", or "than we imagined", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "more than we expected"?

Yes, "more than we expected" is grammatically correct. It's used to indicate that something exceeded previous expectations. For instance, "We received more applications "than we expected"".

What's the difference between "as expected" and "than we expected"?

"As expected" indicates that something happened in accordance with a prior anticipation, while "than we expected" shows a divergence from that anticipation. For example, "The results were as expected", versus "The results were better "than we expected"".