this trumps that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this trumps that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that one thing is superior or more important than another in a particular context. Example: "In this debate, the evidence presented by the expert clearly trumps that of the opposing side."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"But this trumps that.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Then referencing the undercard debate, he continued: "I thought that it was very unfair that virtually the entire early portion was Mr Trump this, Mr Trump that.

The Guardian

In purely visual terms, this new television documentary trumps that 1966 film, even though "Fantastic Voyage" won Oscars for art direction and special effects.

The New York Times - Arts

"Musical theater totally trumps that," she retorted.

The New York Times

"I think it's very sad that CNN leads Jeb Bush down a road by starting all the questions, 'Mr. Trump this, Mr. Trump that.' I think it's very sad," Trump said.

Huffington Post

There were human rights groups who argued that it was too soon to play this trump card; that the Obama administration failed to secure concrete concessions on human rights from the Burmese government before committing itself to a presidential visit.

BBC

(Raised by Trump, that is).

Los Angeles Times

Despite this, Trump warned that Pennsylvania voters needed monitoring.

The Guardian

At this, Trump interjected, "That's called business, by the way".

The New Yorker

Despite this, Trump claimed that he would not be helped at all from his own tax plan.

Huffington Post

Despite this, Trump said that he would listen to the views of experts like Defense Secretary James Mattis – "If they don't want to do it, that's fine".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this trumps that" to concisely express that one element is more significant or decisive than another in a given situation. It's particularly effective when highlighting a key point or argument.

Common error

Avoid using "this trumps that" in highly formal writing or academic papers where a more neutral or precise comparison would be appropriate. Opt for phrases like "this outweighs that" or "this is more significant than that" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this trumps that" functions as a comparative statement. According to Ludwig, it indicates that one element is superior or takes precedence over another. It's a concise way to express a hierarchy or order of importance between two subjects.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this trumps that" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates one thing is more important or superior to another. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Though relatively rare, it's primarily found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone. While effective for emphasizing key points, it should be used judiciously in formal writing, where alternatives like "this outweighs that" might be more suitable. Remember to use "this trumps that" when you want to concisely express the dominance or precedence of one element over another.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this outweighs that

Replaces the verb "trumps" with "outweighs", indicating greater importance or influence.

this supersedes that

Uses "supersedes" to suggest that one thing replaces or overrides another.

this takes precedence over that

Emphasizes the order of importance, with "this" being more important.

this is more important than that

A straightforward comparison of importance using "more important".

this has priority over that

Highlights the preferential treatment or urgency of "this" over "that".

this overrides that

Implies that 'this' cancels out or invalidates 'that'.

this eclipses that

Suggests that 'this' is so significant it diminishes the importance of 'that'.

this dominates that

Implies that 'this' has a controlling influence over 'that'.

the former is superior to the latter

Uses formal language to compare two things, indicating "this" (the former) is better.

this vanquishes that

Replaces 'trumps' with 'vanquishes', indicating a complete victory or defeat.

FAQs

What does "this trumps that" mean?

The phrase "this trumps that" means that the 'this' is more important, significant, or powerful than the 'that'. It suggests that the former overrides or takes precedence over the latter.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "this trumps that"?

It is appropriate to use "this trumps that" when you want to emphasize that one thing is superior to another in a particular context. However, it's best suited for informal or neutral contexts, as it may sound too assertive for formal or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "this outweighs that" in more formal scenarios.

What are some alternatives to "this trumps that"?

Some alternatives to "this trumps that" include "this outweighs that", "this supersedes that", "this takes precedence over that", or simply "this is more important than that", depending on the level of formality required.

Is "this trumps that" grammatically correct?

Yes, "this trumps that" is grammatically correct. However, it's an idiomatic expression, meaning its usage is more about its accepted meaning than strict grammatical rules. Ludwig confirms that the expression is usable in written English.