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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a less percentage
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE 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
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
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.
Science
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).
Science
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).
Science
In contrast, a significantly less percentage macrophage killing was observed for the untreated bacteria (10%, Figure 7a, Q1).
Science
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
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.
Science
"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
The main reason is that monthly runoff is dominated by summer precipitation and snowfall in winter accounts for a small percentage (less than 14%).
Science
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.
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.
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.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
a lower percentage
Replaces "less" with "lower", which is the grammatically correct comparative adjective to describe a smaller proportion.
a smaller percentage
Substitutes "less" with "smaller", indicating a reduction in size or amount of the percentage.
a reduced percentage
Uses "reduced" to emphasize the act of decreasing the percentage.
a decreased percentage
Replaces "less" with "decreased", highlighting a decline in the percentage value.
a diminished percentage
Employs "diminished" to suggest a weakening or lessening of the percentage.
a lower proportion
Switches from "percentage" to "proportion", maintaining the comparative aspect of reduction.
a smaller fraction
Uses "fraction" instead of "percentage", indicating a reduced part of a whole.
a less significant percentage
Adds "significant" to describe when the percentage doesn't carry importance.
a marginally lower percentage
Includes "marginally" to suggest the percentage is reduced by a very small amount.
a slightly reduced percentage
Adopts "slightly" to describe that the reduction is small or delicate.
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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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested