Less size

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Less size" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning; a more appropriate phrase would be needed to express a reduction in size. Example: "We need to find a less size option for the packaging to save space."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"We've got less size so we've had to try to compensate for that a little bit more," said Van Gundy, whose team averages 87.7 points a game, third worst in the league.

The New York Times - Sports

Kenyon Martin and especially Jefferson are still growing into stardom, but the Nets head toward the playoffs with less size and depth at center than they had last season, without a proven backup for Kidd and with a 33-year-old coach, Lawrence Frank, who, for all his smash reviews, has never faced a moment of playoff stress.

The New York Times - Sports

SEM images indicate that a higher amount of AgNPs with less size is synthesized for the ISS process.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It means less size of species in the distillery (<8 nm) than pore size of the membrane.

Nanoscale Research Letters

RMT transport has significantly less size restrictions than carrier mediated transport due to a vesicle-based rather than a stereo selective pore-based delivery mechanism[7].

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Note that this short reaction time may induce less size and shape homogeneity in the formed NPs, as it provides insufficient time to allow for Ostwald ripening.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Further analyses of the simulations suggest that solute diffusion is less size-dependent and solute partitioning more size-dependent than was commonly thought.

Biophysical Journal

In the case of NC3 with increased PANI-LSA content (3.01 wt%), the entities have a tendency to less sizes in the range of about 100 300 nm.

Nanoscale Research Letters

If visual representations are less size-sensitive than haptic representations, the cost of size changes should be reduced for VH compared to HV matching.

Plosone

Angling is assumed to be less size-selective than at least the drift net fishery.

Evolutionary Applications

How well it can capture the essence of recovery and rebuilding dynamics in populations harvested differently (e.g., less size-selectively) or in populations with different life histories (e.g., short-lived and early-maturing species) remains to be assessed by future work.

Evolutionary Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing size, use more precise terms like "smaller", "reduced", or specify the dimensions (e.g., "a diameter of less than 5 cm") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when "fewer" is grammatically correct. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer items"). For size, it is generally more accurate to use comparative adjectives such as "smaller".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less size" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to describe a reduction in dimension or magnitude. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is not considered standard English, as more appropriate alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less size" appears in various sources, including scientific and news media, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect or at least less preferred in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies it as non-ideal, recommending alternatives like "smaller size" or "reduced size" for better clarity. It's important to prioritize accurate and clear language, especially in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller size

Replaces "less" with "smaller", directly indicating a reduced dimension.

reduced size

Uses "reduced" to emphasize the act of making something smaller.

smaller dimensions

Specifies that the size reduction pertains to the dimensions of an object.

decreased size

Implies a reduction in size over time or through a process.

compact size

Highlights that the smaller size is designed for efficiency or portability.

diminished size

Suggests a size reduction that is visually or significantly noticeable.

lesser size

A more formal way of saying "smaller size".

minimal size

Emphasizes that the size is as small as possible.

lighter build

Focuses on the overall build or structure being less substantial.

smaller magnitude

Indicates a reduction in the scale or extent of something abstract.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "less size"?

Better alternatives include "smaller size", "reduced size", or specifying dimensions such as "a diameter of less than 5 cm".

Is it grammatically correct to say "less size"?

While "less size" appears in some contexts, it's not considered grammatically ideal. Using "smaller size" or other similar phrases is generally preferred for better clarity and correctness.

How can I use "smaller size" in a sentence?

Example: "The company is developing a new phone with a smaller size to appeal to customers who prefer compact devices."

What is the difference between "less size" and "smaller size"?

"Smaller size" is a more grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a reduction in physical dimensions compared to "less size", which can sound awkward or incorrect to native English speakers.