the difference between twice and two times

[earleryo]

What is the difference between the following sentences?

this factory is at present producing( )

1. twice more than it did before.

2. two times more than it did before.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by earleryo

What is the difference between the following sentences?
this factory is at present producing( )
1. twice more than it did before.
2. two times more than it did before.

Better late than never:

1 is wrong: "This factory is producing twice as much as it did before."
2

b

ps
You could also say:"This factory is producing more than it did before - two times more."
or "This factory is producing more than it did before - twice as much".

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by earleryo

What is the difference between the following sentences?

this factory is at present producing( )

1. twice more than it did before.

2. two times more than it did before.

I prefer the second to first. The second is correct but it is different from "twice as much". Twice as much = 2 X the base. Two times more = 2 X the base + the base.

If the factory produced 1000 widgets, twice as much would be 2000 widgets; two times more would be 3000 widgets.

[mykwyner]

Sorry, Mike, with all due respect for all the great answers you've given in the past, I'll have to disagree with you on this one. I see the logic in what you're saying, but I think that most people would think 2000 units is two times more than 1000.

[Shad]

Dear MyKwyner,
I agree with Mike. Twice as much and twice more are different quantities.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by mykwyner

Sorry, Mike, with all due respect for all the great answers you've given in the past, I'll have to disagree with you on this one. I see the logic in what you're saying, but I think that most people would think 2000 units is two times more than 1000.

For me, the operative word is "more". I was taught this distinction in statistics. I will search for sources.

[mykwyner]

I agree with your usage of more, but I'm afraid that you're creating ambiguous sentences.

If Washington, DC is 250 miles from my home, and Boston is two times farther (two times more distant), then Boston is 750 miles from my home. The problem is that not every mathematical comparison is this clear.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by mykwyner

I agree with your usage of more, but I'm afraid that you're creating ambiguous sentences.

If Washington, DC is 250 miles from my home, and Boston is two times farther (two times more distant), then Boston is 750 miles from my home. The problem is that not every mathematical comparison is this clear.

I agree that these usages are often confused. I don't know what I can do about that.