were greater than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were greater than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are comparing quantities, values, or measurements, typically in a past tense scenario. Example: "The results from last year's study showed that the benefits were greater than initially anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The benefits were greater than the costs.

The New York Times

Yet the effects were greater than that.

The New York Times

Overall map accuracies were greater than 95%.

Remote Sensing of Environment

"The movements in volatility were greater than I had anticipated.

The New Yorker

It's how you decide which athletes were greater than others.

The New York Times - Sports

Berkshire said the increased losses were greater than anticipated.

The New York Times

Of these, 877 were greater than 5 kb in length.

Nature

Some of these increases were greater than others, of course.

The New York Times

The battle's consequences were greater than its size, however.

Britannica

The F.D.I.C. losses in 1989 were greater than expected.

The New York Times

R2 values of the models were greater than 0.89.

Applied Thermal Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two specific values or sets of data, use "were greater than" to clearly indicate which one is larger. Ensure the context provides a clear basis for comparison.

Common error

Avoid confusing "than" with "then". "Than" is used for comparisons, while "then" indicates time or sequence. For example, "The profits were greater than expected," not "The profits were greater then expected."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were greater than" functions as a comparative expression, indicating that one quantity, value, or measurement exceeded another. This is evident in the examples Ludwig provides, such as "The benefits were greater than the costs."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0.01%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were greater than" is a common and grammatically sound way to express comparison, indicating that one entity or quantity exceeds another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various domains, particularly in scientific research and news reporting. While alternatives like "exceeded" or "surpassed" exist, "were greater than" provides a clear and accessible means of conveying relative magnitude. When using the phrase, ensure accurate comparison and distinguish "than" from "then" to maintain clarity and precision in your writing. The analysis reveals that it serves a fundamental role in comparative statements across numerous contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were higher than

A direct synonym, simply using 'higher' to indicate a greater value or quantity.

were more than

A general alternative indicating a larger amount or degree.

exceeded

A more concise and formal way of expressing that something surpassed a certain limit or quantity.

surpassed

Similar to 'exceeded', but can also imply outperformance in a competitive context.

topped

A more informal way to say something exceeded a particular level or value.

outstripped

Implies a significant and rapid increase, often in a competitive scenario.

were in excess of

A more formal alternative, often used in technical or legal contexts.

eclipsed

Suggests that something outshone or surpassed something else in terms of importance or achievement.

dwarfed

Implies a significant difference in size or scale.

overshadowed

Suggests that something was so much greater it diminished the importance of something else.

FAQs

How can I use "were greater than" in a sentence?

Use "were greater than" to compare two quantities or values in the past. For example, "The benefits "were greater than" the costs."

What can I say instead of "were greater than"?

You can use alternatives like "exceeded", "surpassed", or "were higher than" depending on the specific context.

Is "were greater than" formal or informal?

"Were greater than" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The choice of alternative phrases like "were in excess of" can increase formality.

Which is correct, "were greater than" or "was greater than"?

"Were greater than" is used with plural subjects, while "was greater than" is used with singular subjects. For example, "The profits were greater than expected" (plural) versus "The impact was greater than anticipated" (singular).