Less quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

"less quantity" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a decrease in the amount of something. For example, "I would like to order less quantity of the blue shirts."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

People want less quantity, but more quality and taste.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We have less quantity but more quality," Ms. Exinger said.

The New York Times

"One of the challenges we have is selling a concept that certainly provides less quantity," Mr. Kirk said.

The New York Times

It still pushes through but in far less quantity than before and although this approach is a slow one, it does bring a great deal of satisfaction.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last year, the company rolled out Yelp Deals, a daily deals offering similar to Groupon's, but it has since scaled back the program to focus on higher quality deals but less quantity.

The New York Times

If we are in future going to have more "quality" and less "quantity" in our lives in order to live more sustainably, then the government has got to transform and not just tinker with key issues around transport, agriculture and energy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

For this reasons, scheduling of water and nitrogen application ought to consider providing relatively less quantities of water during the 0 60 DAS period as compared to the 90 120 and 60 90 DAS periods respectively, in order to provide just sufficient amounts of water so as to enhance the uptake of available nitrogen required for optimum growth and development of wheat.

Agricultural Water Management

LC-ESI-MS spectra showed ten folds enhancement in the production of a secondary metabolite, fumiquinazoline C (49.30 µg/mg crude extract) which was earlier present in very less quantities (4.61 µg/mg crude extract) in the crude extract (Fig. 5).

AMB Express

When using two kinds of machineries to compact at the same time, the dump truck makes a bigger soil compaction degree, so the plots that using dump truck to compact have a bigger soil bulk density, worse soil permeability and stronger root penetrative resistance, and thus these cases hinder the growth of bacteria and actinomycetes, expressing the less quantities of the bacteria and actinomycetes.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

At mealtimes, focus less quantities consumed and tone down the persuading especially with new foods, and the "one more bite" mentality -- this will take off some of the pressure, and help prevent suspicion with new foods (i.e., kids thinking "why does mom want me to eat this carrot so badly?").

Huffington Post

The chickens eat less quantities, waste more feeds and has reduced production efficiency during the hot dry environmental temperatures.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for concise and direct language, "Less quantity" is suitable. However, consider alternatives like "Smaller amount" or "Reduced volume" for a more refined tone in formal writing.

Common error

Ensure you use "less" correctly. "Less" should be used for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less quantity), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., fewer apples, fewer items). Don't say "less items"; say "fewer items".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less quantity" functions as a noun phrase acting as a determiner phrase to indicate a reduced amount or volume. Ludwig confirms its acceptability, although more formal alternatives may exist. For instance, "People want "less quantity", but more quality and taste."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less quantity" is an acceptable way to describe a reduction in the amount of something. According to Ludwig, it is used to indicate a need for, or the presence of, a smaller amount, often in comparison to something else. While grammatically sound, its level of formality is neutral. It's important to ensure that "less" is used with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used with countable nouns. Common alternatives include "smaller amount", "reduced volume" and "lower quantity". The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lower quantity

Uses "lower" as a synonym for "less".

Reduced amount

Focuses on the action of reduction rather than the state of having less.

Smaller volume

Specifically refers to the physical space occupied.

Diminished amount

Highlights the gradual decrease in quantity.

Decreased supply

Implies a reduction in available resources.

Limited quantity

Suggests a constraint or restriction on the amount available.

Reduced number

More appropriate when referring to countable items.

Scarcer amount

Emphasizes the increased difficulty in obtaining the quantity.

Slightly reduced

Highlights the smallness of the reduction.

Moderately reduced

Highlights the moderateness of the reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "Less quantity" in a sentence?

You can use "Less quantity" to describe a reduction in the amount of something. For example, "We need to order "less quantity" of raw materials this month."

What are some alternatives to saying "Less quantity"?

Alternatives include "smaller amount", "reduced volume", or "lower quantity", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "Less quantity"?

Yes, it is grammatically acceptable, although some may prefer more formal alternatives in certain contexts. The usage is widespread as confirmed by Ludwig.

When should I use "Less quantity" versus "Fewer items"?

"Less quantity" is suitable for uncountable nouns, while "fewer items" is for countable nouns. For example, "There is "less quantity" of water in the bottle" (uncountable) versus "There are "fewer items" on the shelf" (countable).