"an increase of more than" vs "an increase by more than"

Question

"an increase of more than" vs "an increase by more than"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'An increase of more than' is used when referring to the amount by which something has increased, while 'an increase by more than' is used when indicating the percentage or rate of increase.

Last Updated: April 05, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate the quantity or amount by which something has increased. It is often followed by a specific number or percentage.

Examples:

There was an increase of more than 20% in sales last quarter.
We observed an increase of more than 50 points in the stock market index.
The company reported an increase of more than $1 million in revenue.
An increase of more than 100,000 new users was recorded on the platform.
The study showed an increase of more than 5 degrees in average temperature.

Alternatives:

an increase of over
an increase exceeding
an increase surpassing
an increase greater than
an increase above

This phrase is used to specify the percentage or rate by which something has increased. It is often followed by a specific number or percentage.

Examples:

There was an increase by more than 30% in the company's profits.
The population grew by more than 10% in the last decade.
The price of oil rose by more than $10 per barrel.
The number of employees increased by more than 500 people.
The production output went up by more than 15% last month.

Alternatives:

an increase of more than
an increase exceeding
an increase surpassing
an increase greater than
an increase above

Answer 1

an increase of more than

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to the amount by which something has increased.

Answer 2

an increase by more than

This phrase is correct and commonly used when indicating the percentage or rate of increase.