a lesser percentage

USAGE SUMMARY

"a lesser percentage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare a lesser number to a larger one, usually that is expressed as a percentage. For example, "The Red Team had a lesser percentage of success than the Blue Team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"What justifiable reason is there for the mega rich paying a lesser percentage of wages and earnings than the middle class?" wrote Linda Mussaw.

The New York Times

And when students of color are still in smaller proportion than are people of color in the population, or women are a lesser percentage of dentists and engineers, or men a lesser proportion of physical therapists and nutritionists, that's politics.

The Guardian

That's significant, since it was Sony subsidiary Columbia who were embarrassed by the leaked news that Lawrence was paid a lesser percentage of the profits of American Hustle than her male co-stars.

The Guardian - Film

While water quality parameters under PC3 and PC4 though exhibited strong and positive loading by one parameter each, were considered insignificant due to a lesser percentage of variance (i.e., 6.88 and 6.52%%).

Applied Water Science

Citigroup is the latest to indicate it will raise base pay for investment bankers and traders by as much as 50% and for other employees by a lesser percentage.

Forbes

Calculation of choline uptake rates independently of protein (per whole region) revealed that fasciae dentatae from operated and control sides accumulated choline at approximately equal rates, but on the operated side a greater percentage was transported by structures from the molecular layer and a lesser percentage by those from the granular layer.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

And I would offer, with a high degree of confidence, that a far lesser percentage understands the division of responsibilities within the VA.

Huffington Post

Payment agencies may request that the Secretary exempt 100% of each payment in a payment class or that the Secretary exempt a specific lesser percentage.

Cornell University

At the time, women comprised about seventy-two per cent of the sales workforce and just a third of management and an even lesser percentage of upper management.

The New Yorker

At the time, women comprised about seventy-two per cent of the sales workforce and just a third of management — and an even lesser percentage of upper management.

The New Yorker

We believe that the evidence arising from various studies across the globe largely supports the 'favorable outcome hypothesis in developing countries', i.e. developing countries have a larger proportion of patients with a good outcome and lesser percentage with a worst outcome as compared to developed countries, albeit amidst the controversies discussed by us.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data, use "a lesser percentage" to clearly indicate a smaller proportion of one group relative to another. Ensure the context provides a clear point of comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "a lesser percentage" without a clear reference point. Always specify what the percentage is less than to provide meaningful context and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lesser percentage" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun (implied or stated) to indicate a smaller proportion or amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lesser percentage" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to describe a smaller proportion or amount compared to something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is useful across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and academia. It's crucial to provide a clear reference point when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "a smaller percentage" or "a lower percentage" exist, "a lesser percentage" effectively conveys the intended meaning in a wide array of situations. Always consider the context to ensure the most appropriate phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller percentage

Replaces "lesser" with "smaller", emphasizing size rather than degree.

a lower percentage

Substitutes "lesser" with "lower", focusing on vertical position or rank.

a reduced percentage

Uses "reduced" to highlight the act of diminishing the percentage.

a diminished percentage

Employs "diminished" to emphasize a reduction in size or importance.

a slighter percentage

Replaces "lesser" with "slighter", indicating a small difference.

a marginal percentage

Indicates that the percentage is close to a lower limit.

a weaker percentage

Substitutes "lesser" with "weaker", showing less strength.

a curtailed percentage

Indicates a reduction or restriction in percentage.

a decreased percentage

Highlights the action of reduction of the percentage.

a trivial percentage

Implies the percentage is small and insignificant.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lesser percentage" to compare proportions between groups or situations. For instance, "A lesser percentage of students chose the online option this year".

What's a good alternative to "a lesser percentage"?

Alternatives include "a smaller percentage", "a lower percentage", or "a reduced percentage", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "smaller percentage" or "a lesser percentage"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "a smaller percentage" is often preferred in general contexts, while "a lesser percentage" might be used to emphasize a comparative difference or a reduction in something intangible, but they are interchangeable.

Can "a lesser percentage" be used to describe something increasing?

No, "a lesser percentage" indicates a decrease or a smaller proportion. To describe an increase, you would use phrases like "a greater percentage" or "a higher percentage".