Smoother vs. More Smoothly – Which is Correct?
Both “smoother” and “more smoothly” are correct, but they serve different grammatical roles. Use “smoother” as the comparative form of the adjective “smooth” to describe a person, thing, or experience. Use “more smoothly” as a comparative adverb to describe how an action occurs. The sentence determines your choice in context.
Smoother or More Smoothly – Which is Correct?
“Smoother” and “more smoothly” are both correct expressions, but they cannot usually be exchanged. Smoother is a comparative adjective. It describes a noun and means “more smooth” or “having a surface, movement, process, or quality with fewer roughnesses or interruptions.”
More smoothly is a comparative adverb. It describes a verb and explains that an action happens in a more even, efficient, or trouble-free manner. In simple terms, use smoother to describe what something is like and more smoothly to describe how something happens.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the noun-and-verb swap test. If the word describes a noun, choose smoother: “a smoother road,” “a smoother performance,” or “a smoother transition.” If it describes an action or verb, choose more smoothly: “The car moved more smoothly,” or “The meeting progressed more smoothly.”
Another useful clue is the ending -ly. Words ending in -ly are often adverbs, so more smoothly usually modifies an action.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| smoother | Comparative adjective | More even, polished, comfortable, or trouble-free | This fabric feels smoother. |
| more smoothly | Comparative adverb | In a more even, efficient, or trouble-free way | The updated system runs more smoothly. |
How to Use Smoother
Smoother is the comparative form of the adjective smooth. It compares two or more people, objects, surfaces, experiences, or processes. It can refer to physical texture, movement, sound, writing, communication, business operations, or general quality.
Because it is an adjective, smoother normally appears before a noun or after a linking verb such as be, feel, look, seem, or become. The word is appropriate in both casual and formal writing.
Example 1: The new road provides a smoother ride.
Example 2: Her revised presentation has a smoother structure.
Example 3: This lotion leaves your skin feeling smoother.
What are the different forms of Smoother?
Smooth is the positive form, smoother is the comparative form, and smoothest is the superlative form. Use smooth for one basic quality, smoother when comparing two things or groups, and smoothest when identifying the highest degree in a group.
- Positive: The surface is smooth.
- Comparative: This surface is smoother than the old one.
- Superlative: This is the smoothest surface in the building.
Although more smooth is grammatically possible in some contexts, smoother is usually the more natural comparative form in standard English.
Etymology of the Word Smoother
Smoother comes from the adjective smooth combined with the Old English comparative suffix -er. The word smooth has Germanic roots and has long described something even, polished, level, or free from roughness. Over time, its meaning expanded to include graceful speech, easy movement, and trouble-free processes.
How to Use More Smoothly
More smoothly is the comparative form of the adverb smoothly. It describes the way an action occurs and is used when comparing one manner of action with another. It can describe physical movement, conversation, teamwork, software, negotiations, schedules, or any process with a noticeable degree of ease or continuity.
Use more smoothly after an action verb when you mean “in a smoother way.” It is especially useful when the subject is performing an action rather than possessing a quality.
Example 1: After the repairs, the engine runs more smoothly.
Example 2: The departments worked more smoothly after adopting a shared schedule.
Example 3: He explained the complicated idea more smoothly during the second presentation.
What are the Different Forms of More Smoothly?
The related adjective is smooth, while the adverb forms are smoothly, more smoothly, and most smoothly. The basic adverb describes an action without comparison. The comparative form compares two manners of action, and the superlative form identifies the manner that is smoothest within a larger group.
- Positive: The machine operates smoothly.
- Comparative: The machine operates more smoothly after maintenance.
- Superlative: Of all the machines, this one operates most smoothly.
Etymology of the Word More Smoothly
More smoothly combines the adverb-forming suffix -ly with the comparative word more. Smoothly developed from smooth plus -ly, a suffix meaning “in a specified manner.” English commonly uses more with adverbs ending in -ly, producing forms such as more carefully, more clearly, and more smoothly.
Related Concepts
Understanding adjectives, adverbs, and comparative forms makes it easier to choose between smoother and more smoothly.
- Comparative adjectives: Comparative adjectives describe differences in people, objects, or qualities. Examples include faster, clearer, and smoother.
- Comparative adverbs: Comparative adverbs explain how one action happens in relation to another. Examples include more carefully, more efficiently, and more smoothly.
- Adjective versus adverb: An adjective modifies a noun or follows a linking verb, while an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
- Linking verbs: Verbs such as feel, seem, and become can link a subject to an adjective, as in “The surface feels smoother.”
Examples from Media and Literature
Writers and editors use both forms in many kinds of media and literature. The correct choice depends on whether the sentence describes a thing or the way an action occurs.
- Film reviews: A reviewer might describe a sequel as having a smoother narrative than the original.
- Music journalism: A critic may say that an album has a smoother sound or that the songs transition more smoothly.
- News reporting: An article about public transportation might mention a smoother commuter experience after improvements.
- Business writing: A report may explain that departments collaborated more smoothly after a new communication system was introduced.
- Fiction: A novelist might describe a character’s smoother voice after gaining confidence or explain that the conversation continued more smoothly than expected.
Smoother Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| More even | Having fewer bumps, irregularities, or variations |
| More polished | More refined, finished, or professional |
| More graceful | More elegant or controlled in movement or expression |
| More fluid | Moving or developing with greater ease and continuity |
| More seamless | Having fewer noticeable interruptions or difficulties |
More Smoothly Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| More easily | With less difficulty or effort |
| More fluidly | With more continuous, natural, or graceful movement |
| More efficiently | With less wasted time, energy, or resources |
| More seamlessly | With fewer visible interruptions or problems |
| More effortlessly | With less apparent strain or exertion |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “smoother” grammatically correct?
Yes. Smoother is the standard comparative form of the adjective smooth. Use it to describe a noun or subject, as in “a smoother surface” or “The process is smoother.”
Question 2: Is “more smoothly” grammatically correct?
Yes. More smoothly is a comparative adverb phrase. Use it to describe how an action occurs, as in “The team worked more smoothly after the changes.”
Question 3: Can I say “more smooth” instead of “smoother”?
Sometimes, but smoother is usually more natural and concise. “More smooth” may be used for emphasis or in specific stylistic contexts, but standard comparisons generally favor “smoother.”
Question 4: Which is correct: “The car drives smoother” or “The car drives more smoothly”?
In formal standard English, “The car drives more smoothly” is the clearest choice because the adverb describes how the car drives. In casual speech, “drives smoother” is also common, particularly in some dialects.
Question 5: Which is correct: “a smoother transition” or “a more smoothly transition”?
“A smoother transition” is correct because smoother describes the noun transition. The phrase “a more smoothly transition” is incorrect because smoothly cannot directly modify that noun.
Conclusion
Smoother is a comparative adjective used to describe a person, object, experience, or process. More smoothly is a comparative adverb used to describe how an action occurs. Choose smoother before or after a noun and more smoothly after an action verb. Pro Tip: Choosing the form that matches the grammar of your sentence demonstrates precision and strengthens your professional reputation.
