a further less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a further less' is not correct and it is not usable in written English.
Instead, you could use the phrase 'further still', for example, 'We need to continue in our efforts to reduce our carbon emissions further still'.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Some Muslim democrats go on to make a further, less plausible claim.

The Economist

In addition, a further, less considered phenomenon requires explanation.

Histochemistry and Cell Biology

The above approaches suffer from a further, less obvious, problem.

Genome Medicine

A further, less accessible volume is located beyond a pinch point between Ala and Leu and is lined by the predominately hydrophobic side chains of Tyr, Ser, Val, Val and Phe.

Biochemical Journal

A further, less stringent list was obtained by additionally including those genes that showed differential expression in both medium and blood but to a lesser extent in medium when compared to the blood condition (B30ls and B180ls).

BMC Genomics

A further, less common mechanism involves inactivation of the first two genes of the array by a mutation that is transferred from one gene to another by means of NHR or gene conversion [ Reyniers et al., 1995; Gardner et al., 2010].

Human Mutation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

For such a reason further less restrictive policies will be introduced and investigated; these are mostly based on the concept of "strategy holding" in time (by providing a slower switching policy sampling time) and space (by using hysteresis regions).

Systems & Control Letters

Health workers in the rural areas described their facilities as being understaffed, therefore, sending one of the staff to deliver the report created a problem of further less providers in the facility.

BMC Health Services Research

Citigroup had to be rescued a second time, receiving a further $20 billion less than a month later.

The Economist

The Environment Agency still had 150 flood warnings in place on rivers across England and Wales with a further 259 less serious alerts issued.

Independent

It may have its roots in certain obvious isolating factors of geography and history, but there is a further dimension, less easily pinpointed, a kind of island sensibility, an individuality.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a further less" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "even less" or "much less" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

A common mistake is to incorrectly combine "further", which implies an additional increment, with "less", which indicates a reduction. Instead, use "further" with a comparative adjective like "smaller" or "lower" or replace the phrase with "even less".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a further less" functions as a modifier, attempting to indicate a decrease or reduction in something. However, due to its grammatical incorrectness, it fails to perform this function effectively. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a further less" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect, indicating a misuse of comparative terms. While Ludwig presents some examples where this phrase appears, they are often indicative of errors or awkward phrasing. The intended meaning typically revolves around expressing a reduction or decrease, but the phrase fails to do so effectively. To maintain clarity and credibility, it's recommended to use grammatically sound alternatives such as "even less", "still less", or "much less", depending on the context. Avoiding "a further less" ensures that your writing remains professional and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even less

Focuses on minimizing the quantity or degree to an even lower extent.

still less

Emphasizes the continuation of a reduction or lack thereof.

much less

Highlights a significant difference in quantity or degree, often used for emphasis.

even fewer

Specifically addresses a smaller number of items.

a smaller amount

Replaces "less" with a more explicit noun phrase.

a reduced quantity

Uses more formal language to describe a decrease in amount.

a diminished degree

Emphasizes the reduced intensity or level.

to a lesser extent

More formally expresses a reduction in scope or influence.

in a smaller capacity

Indicates a reduction in ability or capability.

on a lower scale

Implies a reduction in measurement or magnitude.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "a further less"?

Instead of "a further less", consider using phrases like "even less", "still less", or "much less" depending on the intended meaning.

Is it ever appropriate to use the phrase "a further less" in writing?

The phrase "a further less" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's best to avoid using it in both formal and informal writing to maintain clarity and credibility.

How can I ensure my writing is grammatically sound when expressing reduction or decrease?

When expressing a reduction or decrease, use phrases like "to a lesser extent" or "a smaller amount" to maintain grammatical correctness. Always review your writing for proper use of comparative adjectives and adverbs.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when expressing quantity or degree?

Avoid combining contradictory terms like "further" and "less". Be mindful of the context and choose appropriate alternatives to express the intended meaning, such as "even fewer" or "a reduced quantity".