more often than not
usually; in most cases
In Spanish
usually; in most cases
Examples
- More often than not, the simplest solution is the right one.
- More often than not, she arrives early to our meetings.
- The train is more often than not on time during the weekdays.
When it's used
This idiom is informal and used in both speech and writing. It is common in everyday English when someone wants to emphasize that something happens usually or frequently. It is not region-specific and is understood wherever English is spoken.
The common mistake
A common mistake is to say 'more frequent than not,' which is not an English expression. The correct phrase is 'more often than not.'.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
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