Definition

Adverb 1. Used to form the comparative degree: This phrase is used to modify adjectives and adverbs, indicating a higher degree or a larger amount of the quality they describe. It is synonymous with and often replaced by the single word "more."

Usage

• The phrase "to a greater extent" is placed before the adjective or adverb it modifies to create the comparative form.
• It is typically used in more formal or emphatic writing and speech. In everyday English, the single word "more" is far more common.
• It can be used with both long adjectives/adverbs (those with two or more syllables) and, for emphasis, with some short ones.

Examples

• With Adjectives:
  • This solution is to a greater extent effective than the previous one. (This solution is more effective than the previous one.)
  • The second experiment yielded results that were to a greater extent reliable.
• With Adverbs:
  • She completed the task to a greater extent efficiently than her colleague.
  • He argued his point to a greater extent persuasively during the second debate.

Advanced Usage

• For Emphasis or Formality: Using "to a greater extent" instead of "more" can add weight or a formal tone to a statement.
  • The new policy has succeeded, to a greater extent, in reducing costs.
• In Comparative Structures: It is commonly followed by "than" to introduce the thing being compared.
  • The digital version is useful to a greater extent than the printed manual.

Variants and Related Words

• More (adv.): The standard and most frequent comparative marker, equivalent in meaning to "to a greater extent."
• To a lesser extent (adv.): The antonym, meaning "less" or "in a smaller degree."
• Greater (adj.): The comparative form of "great," meaning larger in size, degree, or importance.

Synonyms

• More
• Further
• To a higher degree

Antonyms

• To a lesser extent
• Less

Related Phrases

• To a large extent: To a considerable degree (not necessarily comparative).
  • I agree with you to a large extent.
• To some extent: Partially, to a certain degree.
  • The problem was, to some extent, our own fault.

Adverb

1. used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
   • more interesting
   • more beautiful
   • more quickly