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In reading [this
question](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/93189/implicit-
comparison-with-%e3%81%bb%e3%81%a9/93195?noredirect=1#93195), it's occurred to
me that I don't know the difference between the following constructions:

> 自転車に乗るのは思ったより易しくない  
>  自転車に乗るのは思ったほど易しくない

Is the difference really just as the literal translation suggests? That より is
"not as easy" and ほど is "not easy to the extent" (but potentially still easy)?
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question
grammar nuances comparative-constructions
～ほど～ない vs ～より～ない
`～より～ない` is just comparing two things and showing their relationship. We can't
tell to what extent they are. `自転車に乗るのは思ったより易しくない`: The speaker tried to ride
a bike, and it was simply more difficult than they expected. Not sure if they
could or not.

`～ほど～ない` is also comparing two but also implying its extent.
`自転車に乗るのは思ったほど易しくない`: The speaker could have ridden a bike, though that was a
bit more tricky than they thought.

Usually, `～より～` is used with a positive form of a word, so this time
`思ったより難しい` is more natural. `～ほど～` can only be used with a negative form.
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answer