You wrote:
> Hello,
> You are turning out to become a regular resource for me, are you not?
> Here’s a question with which I’m hoping you might help me. Which is correct?:
>
> more important
> or
> more importantly
>
> “Drinking water helps to cure your thirst…______…it helps to hydrate you?”
>
> I’ve always thought that is should be “importantly,” but I hear this used
> least.
>
> Thank you,
>
In this sentence, “more important” is correct in the sense I believe you mean it to be. “Important” is an adjective; it modifies nouns or pronouns. “Importantly” is an adverb; it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. In this
construction “Drinking water” is what is important. “Drinking water” is a gerund phrase and the subject of the sentence; therefore, it is a noun. You would use “important” to modify it.