a lesser decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lesser decrease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two decreases, indicating that one is smaller than the other. Example: "This year, we experienced a lesser decrease in sales compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Lower concentrations of dissolved silica species (0.2 mM) led to a lesser decrease (70%) in iron reactivity toward 1,1,1-TCA.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Immediately after cutting balloon angioplasty, the deep injury group showed a significant increase in VA (p <0.0001) and a lesser decrease in PA (p <0.01) compared with the nondeep injury group.

The American Journal of Cardiology

Interestingly, The Fe promoted catalysts show a lesser decrease in activity between the initial and final conversions.

Applied Petrochemical Research

The absorption spectrum of the isolated molybdenum domain of the human C207S mutant displayed marked attenuation of the peak at 350 nm and a lesser decrease in absorbance from 450-600 nm as compared with the native human molybdenum domain.

Duke University

The Fe promoted catalysts also show a lesser decrease in selectivity to propylene with time compared to the parent ZSM-5 with the highest metal loading of 5% Fe ZSM-5 catalyst having the smallest decrease.

Applied Petrochemical Research

A lesser decrease of about ~ 0.2 psu at BoB occurred on December 22, 2015, approximately 19 20 days after the first exchange again coinciding with the exchange time for the period.

Ecological Processes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

To a lesser extent, decrease in neuronal damage was also observed in these brain regions on supplementation with Sutherlandia.

ASN Neuro

Equation (6) can be used to determine the relative number of females per male for a population at equilibrium: (7) The degree of female bias increases with the Wolbachia transmission efficiency, and to a lesser extent decrease with the relative cost of being infected (1- ω).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Similar activities are shared by IL-4, IL-13 and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), which in this context are generally considered anti-inflammatory in that they increase IL-1Ra and, to a lesser extent, decrease IL-1 production (Table 2).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

The current study revealed decrease in both total chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b ratio in case of N22, but an increase in chlorophyll content in NH219 (Panigrahy et al. 2011) and lesser decrease in chlorophyll a/b ratio.

Rice

If post-biopsy SUV were inflated, the opposite trend (greater decrease when the baseline scan occurred post-biopsy, lesser decrease when the post-therapy scan occurred post-biopsy) would be expected.

EJNMMI Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two different scenarios or interventions, use "a lesser decrease" to highlight which one resulted in a smaller reduction. For instance, "Treatment A resulted in a lesser decrease in blood pressure compared to Treatment B".

Common error

Avoid using "lesser" when referring to countable items. "Lesser" is for things that cannot be counted (e.g. effort, importance). Use "fewer" for countable items (e.g. number of occurrences). Therefore, it's incorrect to say "a lesser number of errors"; the correct phrasing is "fewer errors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lesser decrease" functions as a noun phrase, where "lesser" modifies the noun "decrease". It is used to describe a reduction that is smaller in magnitude compared to another.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

95%

Academia

3%

News & Media

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lesser decrease" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, particularly in scientific and academic writing, to describe a smaller reduction in comparison to another. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its function is to compare and contrast the extent of reductions. While alternatives like "a smaller reduction" or "a minor decline" exist, "a lesser decrease" maintains a formal and precise tone. Remember to use "lesser" for non-countable nouns and "fewer" for countable nouns to avoid common errors. By following these guidelines, you can confidently use "a lesser decrease" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller reduction

Replaces "decrease" with "reduction" and "lesser" with "smaller", emphasizing the reduced amount.

a minor decline

Uses "decline" instead of "decrease" and "minor" instead of "lesser", implying a slight fall.

a reduced drop

Employs "drop" in place of "decrease", highlighting a lessening fall.

a slight downturn

Replaces "decrease" with "downturn", suggesting a mild negative trend.

a minimal lessening

Uses "lessening" to replace "decrease" emphasizing the process of becoming smaller in intensity or degree.

a mitigated decline

Employs "mitigated" to denote that the decline has been somewhat alleviated or reduced.

a tempered reduction

Uses "tempered" indicating a moderation or reduction in the severity of the decrease.

a moderated decrease

This choice emphasizes a control or regulation of the "decrease".

a curtailed lessening

Replaces both words to suggest the decrease was stopped or limited.

a constricted decline

This indicates the decline happened in a limited or constrained way.

FAQs

How can I use "a lesser decrease" in a sentence?

You can use "a lesser decrease" to compare the magnitude of reductions between two scenarios. For example: "The new policy resulted in "a lesser decrease" in customer complaints compared to the previous one".

What are some alternatives to "a lesser decrease"?

Some alternatives to "a lesser decrease" include "a smaller reduction", "a minor decline", or "a reduced drop". The best choice depends on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a lesser decrease" in formal writing?

Yes, "a lesser decrease" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in scientific or technical contexts where precise language is valued. However, consider alternatives like "a smaller reduction" for broader appeal.

What's the difference between "a lesser decrease" and "a smaller decrease"?

While both phrases are similar, "a lesser decrease" often implies a difference in degree or intensity, whereas "a smaller decrease" focuses on the quantity of reduction. In most contexts, they are interchangeable, but "smaller" might be more easily understood by a general audience.