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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a less percentage

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a less percentage" is not correct in standard English; it should be "a lower percentage." You can use the correct phrase when comparing quantities or proportions in various contexts, such as statistics or surveys.
Example: "This year, we saw a lower percentage of participants compared to last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

After internalization, a less percentage of co-localization of CS/DNA/γ-PGA complexes with lysosomes was observed when compared with their CS/DNA counterparts.

Also, because DRIVE uses a single broadcast message in each hop, the average number of transmitted messages is much smaller at the expense of the a less percentage of road segment coverage.

Regarding knowledge of the child caregiver on home management of child illness, 40% mentioned to have treated fever with the correct regimen: cloroquine plus paracetamol [ 18], 37% cloroquine alone and in a less percentage with paracetamol only (11%).

The rest of methods find a less percentage of biclusters with the p-values specified than the proposed method although OPSM presents good results for high levels of significance (p >0.05).

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The isolated fungi belonged mostly to Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and at a very less percentage of Zygomycota (Table 2).

In contrast, a significantly less percentage macrophage killing was observed for the untreated bacteria (10%, Figure  7a, Q1).

All it would take would be a less than one percentage point drop in productivity for that out-year surplus to dwindle or maybe even vanish.

News & Media

The New York Times

A less sophisticated measure of percentage agreement ranged from 64 to 93 % for each final code.

Moreover, in different tissues AT-less and CG-less percentages show a combined relationship of complementarity and proportionality.

"The most important thing is for every vote to be counted". Returns Wednesday afternoon showed Bera ahead by 2,094 votes — a less-than 2-percentage-point lead.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

The main reason is that monthly runoff is dominated by summer precipitation and snowfall in winter accounts for a small percentage (less than 14%).

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "lower percentage" instead of "a less percentage" in formal writing to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

While 'less' is used for uncountable nouns, 'fewer' should be used for countable nouns. 'Percentage' represents a countable proportion, so avoid saying "a less percentage." Use "a lower percentage" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "percentage," aiming to quantify a reduced proportion. However, it uses the incorrect comparative adjective "less". Ludwig AI confirms that the construction is not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a less percentage" appears in some sources, it is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. The correct phrasing is "a lower percentage" or "a smaller percentage". This aims to express a reduction in proportion. Although the phrase may be encountered, especially in news or scientific contexts, it's best to avoid it in formal writing and opt for the grammatically correct alternatives for clarity and precision. Ludwig AI underscores the importance of using "lower" or "smaller" with percentages to ensure proper grammar.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a less percentage"?

The correct way to express "a less percentage" is to say "a lower percentage" or "a smaller percentage". The word "less" is typically used with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" or "lower" are used with countable nouns and percentages.

When should I use "a lower percentage" instead of "a less percentage"?

You should always use "a lower percentage" because "percentage" refers to a quantifiable amount and requires the comparative adjective "lower", not "less", which is for uncountable quantities.

What alternatives are there for "a less percentage" that maintain a similar meaning?

Alternatives to "a less percentage" include "a smaller percentage", "a reduced percentage", or simply "a lower percentage". These phrases accurately convey the idea of a reduced proportion or amount.

Is "a less percentage" grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "a less percentage" is not grammatically correct in formal writing. It is best to use "a lower percentage" or "a smaller percentage" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: