to heighten expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to heighten expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of increasing or elevating what people anticipate or hope for in a particular situation. Example: "The marketing campaign was designed to heighten expectations for the upcoming product launch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Buoyed by their success 12 months ago, they opted to heighten expectations of what they might be able to achieve this time around.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the data is unlikely to heighten expectations of an early interest rate increase by the Bank of Japan because consumer price growth remains subdued, with companies still reluctant to fully pass on rising raw material costs to consumers.

The New York Times

To heighten expectations she is leading after Thursday's first two runs in Sochi, too.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the high of Sunday's win over Miami, which followed the low of Friday's loss to Cleveland, will only heighten expectations that D'Antoni already regards as unreachable in this season's limited lifespan.

The New York Times - Sports

So news of cases like Mr. Hendrickson's, and at least one other person who had planned her funeral only to be discharged from a hospice, heighten expectations that similar new drugs will soon follow.

The New York Times - Science

Some Bush supporters even said they welcomed the Gore campaign's drive to appear competitive here, saying it would only heighten expectations for the vice president and spur Republicans here to work harder for Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

6 8 Educational leaders are under scrutiny to achieve heightened expectations for improvement to teaching and learning.

BMJ Open

The May C.P.I. helped heighten expectations that higher interest rates, which tend to hold down prices, may be in the offing.

The New York Times

A Republican Congress would heighten expectations among Republicans that Mr. Bush could deliver much of their agenda; expectations that he may be unable to fulfill -- or not want to.

The New York Times

The presence of British officers in Djibouti will heighten expectations that the ground is being prepared for redeployment of UK drones elsewhere overseas.

The Guardian

This could further heighten expectations of change.Yet the Castro government may also feel that elections can be a useful outlet so long as the ruling party continues to win.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to heighten expectations" when you want to emphasize a deliberate action aimed at increasing anticipation or hope, especially when building excitement around an event, product, or announcement. Ensure the context aligns with a planned effort to elevate what people foresee or desire.

Common error

Avoid using too many adverbs or adjectives to describe "expectations". Over-emphasizing can make your writing sound hyperbolic or insincere. Instead of saying "to drastically heighten expectations", consider if "to heighten expectations" is sufficient, or rephrase to describe how the expectations are being heightened.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to heighten expectations" functions as an infinitive phrase that typically modifies a verb, adjective, or noun. It describes the purpose or intention behind an action, indicating an effort to increase anticipation or hope. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to heighten expectations" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to describe the act of increasing anticipation or hope, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While the phrase is not particularly common, as evidenced by its 'Rare' frequency rating, it is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Alternative phrases, such as "to raise expectations" and "to fuel anticipation", offer similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis. When using "to heighten expectations", focus on clear and direct language and avoid overuse of intensifiers to maintain a sincere and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to raise expectations

Uses 'raise' instead of 'heighten', indicating a similar action of increasing expectations.

to fuel anticipation

Focuses on generating anticipation, a closely related concept to heightening expectations.

to build up hype

Emphasizes creating excitement and buzz, which contributes to increased expectations.

to set the stage

Suggests preparing for something significant, inherently raising what people anticipate.

to create a buzz

Similar to 'build up hype', focusing on generating interest and excitement.

to whet the appetite

Figuratively stimulates desire and anticipation, indirectly increasing expectations.

to stimulate interest

Focuses on generating interest, which can lead to increased expectations.

to generate excitement

Directly creates excitement, which often elevates expectations.

to amplify hopes

Similar to raising or heightening but focused on the emotional aspect of hopes.

to stir anticipation

Evokes a sense of excitement and readiness, which can make people anticipate something more.

FAQs

What does "to heighten expectations" mean?

The phrase "to heighten expectations" means to increase the level of anticipation, hope, or excitement that people have about something that is going to happen in the future. Similar alternatives are "to raise expectations" or "to fuel anticipation".

Is "to heighten expectations" formal or informal?

The phrase "to heighten expectations" has a neutral tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is suitable for news articles, business reports, and casual conversations. See how it is used in "news and media".

When should I use "to heighten expectations" instead of "to raise expectations"?

While "to heighten expectations" and "to raise expectations" are very similar, "to heighten" can suggest a more significant or dramatic increase. Use "to heighten" when you want to emphasize a substantial increase in anticipation. Using "to fuel anticipation" may be more useful if you want to generate expectations.

What is the difference between "to heighten expectations" and "heightened expectations"?

"To heighten expectations" is an action, indicating the process of increasing anticipation. "Heightened expectations" refers to the state of having increased anticipation, acting as a descriptive phrase. You might "to heighten expectations" with a marketing campaign, resulting in "heightened expectations" among consumers.