More Important vs. More Importantly – Which is Correct?

The choice between “more important” and “more importantly” hinges on whether you need an adjective or an adverb. “More important” is an adjective phrase used to describe nouns or follow linking verbs. “More importantly” is an adverbial phrase used to modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or an entire sentence.

More Important or More Importantly – Which is Correct?

Both “more important” and “more importantly” are grammatically correct, but they serve different functions in a sentence. The distinction lies in their grammatical roles: “more important” acts as an adjective, while “more importantly” functions as an adverb.

“More important” is used when you are describing a noun or a pronoun, or when it follows a linking verb (like is, seems, becomes) to describe the subject. It answers the question “what kind?” or “which one?”

“More importantly” is used when you are modifying a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or when it functions as a sentence adverb, providing emphasis or linking ideas. It answers the question “how?” or “to what extent?”

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

A simple trick to remember which to use is the “Swap Test”. Try replacing the phrase with a similar adjective (like “significant”) or an adverb (like “significantly”).

• If you can replace it with an adjective, use “more important”: “This task is more important.” (This task is significant.)
• If you can replace it with an adverb, use “more importantly”: “More importantly, we need to finish on time.” (Significantly, we need to finish on time.)

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
More important	Adjective (comparative form)	Having greater significance, value, or priority. Describes a noun.	This decision is more important than you realize.
More importantly	Adverb (comparative form)	In a way that is of greater importance; used to modify verbs, adjectives, or entire sentences.	More importantly, did you remember to lock the door?

How to Use More Important

“More important” functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to describe nouns, comparing their level of importance to something else. It often appears after a linking verb (such as be, seem, become, feel) to describe the subject, or before a noun it modifies. Using “more important” typically conveys a formal or neutral tone.

Example 1: Finding a solution is more important than assigning blame.

Example 2: She chose the career path that felt more important to her personal values.

Example 3: The security update is a more important feature than the new color scheme.

What are the different forms of important?

“Important” is an adjective, and its forms relate to degrees of comparison:

• Positive Degree: important (e.g., “This task is important.”)
• Comparative Degree: more important (e.g., “This task is more important than that one.”)
• Superlative Degree: most important (e.g., “This is the most important task of all.”)

Etymology of the word important

The word “important” comes from the Old French important, meaning “of consequence,” which itself derived from the Latin importare, meaning “to carry into, bring in, signify, matter.” Over time, its meaning evolved to denote something that “matters” or carries weight and significance.

How to Use More Importantly

“More importantly” functions as a comparative adverbial phrase. It is used to modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or an entire clause or sentence, indicating that the manner or aspect being described is of greater significance. When used as a sentence adverb, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence, separated by a comma, to emphasize the following statement. It maintains a formal or neutral tone.

Example 1: The team worked hard, and more importantly, they collaborated effectively.

Example 2: He explained the concept clearly, but more importantly, he made it engaging.

Example 3: You must arrive on time, and more importantly, be prepared with your presentation.

What are the different forms of importantly?

“Importantly” is an adverb. While adverbs don’t typically have “forms” in the same way verbs or adjectives do, they do have degrees of comparison:

• Positive Degree: importantly (e.g., “He spoke importantly.”)
• Comparative Degree: more importantly (e.g., “He spoke more importantly about the budget.”)
• Superlative Degree: most importantly (e.g., “Most importantly, listen to the instructions.”)

Etymology of the word importantly

The adverb “importantly” is formed by adding the suffix “-ly” to the adjective “important.” The suffix “-ly” is commonly used in English to transform adjectives into adverbs, indicating “in a [adjective] manner.” Thus, “importantly” means “in an important manner” or “of greater importance.”

Related Concepts

Understanding the fundamental difference between adjectives and adverbs is crucial for correctly using “more important” and “more importantly.”

• Adjectives: Words that describe or modify nouns and pronouns. They provide more information about qualities, quantities, or characteristics. “Important” is an adjective.
• Adverbs: Words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often answer questions like how, when, where, why, or to what extent. “Importantly” is an adverb.
• Linking Verbs: Verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject (e.g., is, am, are, was, were, seem, become, feel, look). Adjectives, not adverbs, follow linking verbs to describe the subject.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “It is more important to be of a good than of a great name.” – Arthur Schopenhauer
• “What is more important is to get to the truth.” – From a news report discussing an investigation.
• “He failed to understand the nuances, but more importantly, he missed the underlying motive.” – A literary critique.
• “The new policy will save money, and more importantly, it will improve public safety.” – A statement from a government official.
• “For a writer, it is more important to have something to say than to say it perfectly.” – An essay on writing craft.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The team’s morale is (more important / more importantly) than individual statistics.
2. You need to study hard, and (more important / more importantly), understand the concepts.
3. What’s (more important / more importantly) to you, wealth or happiness?
4. He arrived on time, but (more important / more importantly), he brought the necessary documents.
5. Her contribution to the project was (more important / more importantly) than anyone else’s.

Answer Key

1. more important
2. more importantly
3. more important
4. more importantly
5. more important

Important Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Significant	Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.
Crucial	Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.
Essential	Absolutely necessary or important.
Vital	Absolutely necessary or important; essential.
Consequential	Following as a result or effect; important or significant.

Importantly Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Significantly	In a sufficiently great or important way as to be worthy of attention.
Crucially	In a way that is decisive or critical.
Essentially	Used to emphasize the fundamental nature of something.
Vitally	In a way that is absolutely necessary or important.
Primarily	For the most part; mainly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “more importantly” ever modify a noun?
No, “more importantly” is an adverb and cannot directly modify a noun. Adjectives modify nouns. If you need to describe a noun’s importance, use “more important” (e.g., “a more important factor”).

Question 2: Is “most importantly” also an adverb?
Yes, “most importantly” is the superlative form of the adverb “importantly.” It functions in the same way as “more importantly,” but indicates the highest degree of importance (e.g., “Most importantly, remember your passport.”).

Question 3: When should I use a comma after “more importantly”?
When “more importantly” is used as a sentence adverb (modifying the entire clause that follows), it is typically followed by a comma. For example, “More importantly, we need to consider the long-term effects.” If it’s modifying a verb or adjective within the sentence more directly, a comma might not be needed.

Conclusion

Navigating the nuances of “more important” and “more importantly” boils down to understanding their roles as an adjective and an adverb, respectively. “More important” describes nouns or follows linking verbs, while “more importantly” modifies verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences. By applying the “Swap Test” and recognizing the grammatical function each word serves, you can ensure precision in your writing.

Pro Tip: Using the correct word demonstrates a strong command of grammar, which is crucial for maintaining a professional image in both written and spoken communication. Pay attention to whether you are describing what is important or how something is important.