what was more

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'what was more' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you want to emphasize one point or fact, or to add an additional point. For example: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the movie, what was more, my friend also enjoyed it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What was more impressive?

The New York Times - Sports

What was more provocative?

The New York Times - Magazine

And, what was more, he knew it.

The New Yorker

What was more convincing was animated films.

The New Yorker

What was more, he had larger concerns.

The New Yorker

What was more important, freedom or virtue?

The Guardian - Opinion

What was more interesting was her comments after the game.

Independent

What was more, all the continental powers embraced offensive strategies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I mean, what was more litigated than this very question?

The New York Times

What was more perplexing was Atler's reaction to it.

The New York Times - Sports

Even now, it's hard to say what was more loathsome.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what was more" to introduce a point that amplifies or adds a surprising element to the previous statement. This can enhance the impact of your writing by highlighting unexpected or critical details.

Common error

Avoid using "what was more" merely to continue a sequence of events. This phrase is best reserved for emphasizing importance or surprise, not just to indicate the next event in a series.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was more" functions as an conjunctive adverbial phrase, introducing a clause that adds emphasis or surprise to the preceding statement. Ludwig shows its use across various contexts, often highlighting a crucial or unexpected detail. It helps build upon existing information by presenting something that amplifies its significance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what was more" is a versatile phrase used to introduce an additional point that adds emphasis or surprise. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. To enhance your writing, use this phrase to amplify the impact of a statement by highlighting key points or unexpected developments. Remember that alternatives such as "more importantly" or "more significantly" can provide similar emphasis, depending on the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more importantly

Emphasizes greater significance or relevance.

more significantly

Highlights the increased importance of a detail.

of greater importance

Formal way to indicate a higher level of importance.

more crucially

Stresses the critical nature of the additional information.

even more so

Underscores that something is true to an even greater extent.

furthermore

Adds an additional point or argument.

in addition

Simply adds another point, typically of equal importance.

on top of that

Informal way of adding another point.

besides that

Similar to "in addition" but slightly more casual.

above all

Indicates the most important aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "what was more" in a sentence?

Use "what was more" to introduce a point that adds significance or surprise to a previous statement. For example, "The event was well-attended; "what was more", the keynote speaker announced a major breakthrough".

What's a formal alternative to "what was more"?

A formal alternative could be "more importantly" or "of greater significance". These phrases maintain a level of formality suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is "what was more" appropriate for informal writing?

"What was more" is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal writing. However, in very casual contexts, phrases like "plus" or "and another thing" might be more fitting.

How does "what was more" differ from "furthermore"?

"Furthermore" simply adds another point, whereas "what was more" typically introduces a point that is either surprising or particularly important in addition to the initial statement.