'Quieter' or 'More Quiet': Which is Correct?

By Shanea Patterson, updated on February 21, 2023

Should you say ‘quieter’ or ‘more quiet’? Which one is the correct way to say it? We’ll go over that in this article, plus teach you how to pronounce the correct one and use it in a sentence.

Don’t feel like waiting? Here’s the short answer.

  • ‘Quieter’ and ‘more quiet’ are both correct.
  • ‘Quieter’ is more common of the two.

Therefore, you should feel free to use either one phrase or the other. You can also use them interchangeably.

Which is Correct – ‘Quieter’ or ‘More Quiet’?

As you just learned, both ‘quieter’ and ‘more quiet’ are okay to use in your everyday writing.

You might be tempted to use one or the other, but you can actually use them interchangeably because they mean the same thing.

We’ll go into the definition and meaning a little later in the article.

Should I Use ‘Quieter’ or ‘More Quiet’? 

So, which should you use – ‘quieter’ or ‘more quiet’?

It depends on which one you prefer.

Since they’re both technically correct and grammatical, it’s okay to use either one.

Don’t be afraid to swap them out, either. They’re synonyms, not homophones.

Now, let’s take a look the official definition of the word and phrase.

Definition and Meaning of ‘Quieter’ and ‘More Quiet’

According to Merriam-Webster, the word ‘quieter’ can be defined as comparative form of the adjective ‘quiet.’

In other words, the word is used to compare two things, one of which may be ‘more quiet’ or ‘quieter’ than the other.

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce ‘Quieter’ and ‘More Quiet’

Are you unsure of how to pronounce this word and phrase? Here’s a short guide.

  • To pronounce ‘quieter,’ here’s the phonetic spelling:
  • To pronounce ‘more quiet,’ here’s the phonetic spelling:

How to Use ‘Quieter’ and ‘More Quiet’ in a Sentence

Now that we know what the word and phrase mean, we can take a look at some examples of how to use them in a sentence.

  • My last alarm was quieter than this one. I think I have to switch back, so I’ll actually wake up.
  • We were told to be more quiet by our mother because our grandma was asleep.
  • My TV is always quieter at night. I just need a little white noise.
  • My mom told me to be quieter, so I picked up a fiction book and began to read.
  • I like going to the library because it’s quieter than my apartment.
  • Every time we go to my friend’s house, her mom tells us to be quieter even before we make much noise.

Concluding Thoughts on ‘Quieter’ and ‘More Quiet’ 

To recap, we learned that:

  • ‘Quieter’ and ‘more quiet’ are both okay to use in your writing.
  • ‘Quieter’ is more common of the two, but they both mean the same thing.

Therefore, you can use either one phrase or the other. You can also use them interchangeably.

If you ever get stuck on anything, you can always come back here to review what you learned. We’ve got a ton of other content on confusing words and phrases people often have trouble with in the English language. Don’t be afraid to go check it out.

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Written By:
Shanea Patterson
Shanea Patterson is a writer based in New York and loves writing for brands big and small. She has a master's degree in professional writing from New York University and a bachelor's degree in English from Mercy College.

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