Less deep water

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Less deep water" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a body of water that is not very deep, often in contexts related to geography, fishing, or swimming. Example: "The less deep water near the shore is perfect for children to play in safely."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Permian ocean was easier to acidify than today's ocean because it had less deep-water calcium carbonate, which offsets the acid.

The New York Times - Science

The orbits and nostrils of a pygmy hippo are much less pronounced, an adaptation from spending less time in deep water (where pronounced orbits and nostrils help the common hippo breathe and see).

Wikipedia

It's in less mature basins and deep water and it's a wide spread of interests.

BBC

As all of our sampling stations were in less than four m deep water, discussions in this paper focus on littoral fish assemblages.

BMC Ecology

As C. sorrah is commonly reported from inshore waters less than 200 m, the deep water of the Timor Trench (2 – 3000 m) is implicated as the isolating mechanism preventing gene flow between northern Australia and central Indonesia.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Go out to moderately deep water (slightly less than waist-deep is best).

WikiHow

Little by little, she feels the water grow less deep, she touches her feet to the riverbed, she stands; she loses her shoes in the mud and hasn't the strength to search for them; she leaves the water barefoot and climbs the bank to the road.

The New Yorker

We've just seen the difficulties in the Gulf of Mexico, in waters much less deep.

The Economist

"It also has access to deep water, which means less dredging would be required than in other locations".

The Guardian

A general rule is to never jump into water that is less deep than you are tall.

WikiHow

However, if there is less water than this limit, then the deep water cycle will move enough water between the oceans and mantle to allow continents to exist.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing aquatic environments for clarity, specify "less deep water" locations relative to a known reference point (e.g., "The fish tend to congregate in the less deep water near the riverbank").

Common error

Avoid using "less deep" when you simply mean 'not deep'. "Less deep" implies a comparison, while 'not deep' is a simple statement of fact. If there is no comparison to something else, use "shallow" or "not deep" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Less deep water" functions as a noun phrase modified by a comparative adjective. It describes a body of water that is not as deep as another, implying a comparison. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Less deep water" is grammatically correct and used to describe areas of water that are shallower in comparison to other areas. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it's important to use it in contexts where a comparison is intended. Otherwise, simpler terms like "shallow water" might be more appropriate. It appears across various sources, including science, news, and general information sites, indicating its broad applicability, albeit with relatively low frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Shallower water

Focuses directly on reduced depth without the comparative structure.

More shallow water

Rephrases using 'more shallow' to emphasize a greater degree of shallowness.

Water of reduced depth

Formalizes the phrase by using 'reduced depth' instead of 'less deep'.

Water with diminished depth

Emphasizes that the depth has decreased or lessened.

Water that isn't as deep

More conversational way of expressing the same idea.

Water with lower depth

A simple synonymic variation.

Water with a decreased depth

Highlights a change in the depth, implying it was once deeper.

Minimally deep water

Emphasizes that the depth is at a minimum or very small.

Water closer to the surface

Indicates a relative proximity to the top layer of the water body, hence being less deep.

Upper water layers

Describes generally the superficial part of the water column, thus less deep.

FAQs

How to use "Less deep water" in a sentence?

You can use "less deep water" to describe areas that are shallower compared to other parts of a body of water. For example: "The "shallower water" near the shore is safer for children to play in."

What's the difference between "Less deep water" and "Shallow water"?

"Less deep water" implies a comparison, indicating that one area is not as deep as another. "Shallow water", on the other hand, simply describes water that is not very deep without making a direct comparison. You might say, "This area has "less deep water" than that area", or "This is "shallow water"."

What can I say instead of "Less deep water"?

Alternatives include "shallower water", "water with reduced depth", or "water that isn't as deep" depending on the context.

Is "Less deep water" grammatically correct?

Yes, "Less deep water" is grammatically correct. It uses "less" as a comparative adjective to describe the depth of water in relation to another area or expectation.