a lower than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lower than expected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing outcomes, results, or measurements that are less than what was anticipated or predicted. Example: "The company reported a lower than expected profit this quarter, leading to concerns among investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Conversely, observed to expected ratios below 1.0 suggest a lower than expected Mx rate compared to the average.

British Journal of Cancer

Miners lost ground after China's economy grew at a lower than expected 10.3%.

The Guardian - Business

This latest development by the ECB may have a lower than expected positive longer term impact on growth across region.

The Guardian - Business

EasyJet has reported a lower than expected loss of £53m in the first quarter, and gave a positive outlook.

The Guardian - Business

A lower than expected return on capital could also lead to a more prolonged slump in IT investment.

The Economist

Then falling behind schedule technically…Followed by a lower than expected appetite for further investment".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Generally, results have been rather disappointing with a lower-than expected RR (Table 6) [ 74, 79].

Breast Cancer Research

Genentech said first-quarter results would also benefit from a lower-than-expected tax rate.

The New York Times

Natural gas gained after a government report showed a lower-than-expected increase in inventories.

The New York Times

The euro gained ground against the dollar after a lower-than-expected U.S. housing starts report.

The New York Times

The government granted a lower-than-expected increase in the licence fee in 2007.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lower than expected", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the expectation was based on. For example, clarify if it's a sales forecast, a scientific prediction, or a performance target.

Common error

Avoid using "a lower than expected" without specifying the reference point. Saying "sales were lower than expected" is vague unless you clarify what the sales were expected to be, such as "compared to last quarter" or "based on market analysis".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lower than expected" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that something is less than what was anticipated. Ludwig provides many examples where it precedes nouns like 'profit', 'rate', 'number', etc.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a lower than expected" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an outcome or result that falls short of what was predicted or anticipated. As shown by Ludwig, it is widely used across diverse fields like science, news, and business. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide context by clearly stating the basis of the expectation to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "disappointing" or "underwhelming" exist, "a lower than expected" offers a neutral and factual way to convey the information. Ludwig AI confirms its linguistic correctness and provides ample real-world examples for effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller than anticipated

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated", emphasizing the element of prior planning or expectation.

a less than anticipated

Replace "lower" with "less" keeping the semantic meaning of the phrase.

a below expectations

Uses a shorter, more direct phrase to indicate that something did not meet the desired level.

a disappointing

Offers a more emotional and subjective assessment of the outcome.

a worse than predicted

Focuses on the predictive aspect, highlighting the discrepancy between the forecast and the actual result.

a underachieving

Highlights the aspect of failing to reach a set goal or standard.

a deficient

Indicates a lack or shortage compared to what was needed or foreseen.

a suboptimal

Suggests that the result was less than ideal or optimal.

a underwhelming

Indicates that the result failed to impress or excite.

a reduced

Focuses on the quantity or amount being less than anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "a lower than expected" in a sentence?

You can use "a lower than expected" to describe a result that is less than what was predicted. For example, "The company reported "a lower than expected" profit margin this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "a lower than expected"?

Alternatives include "a smaller than anticipated", "a disappointing" result, or "a worse than predicted" outcome.

Is it more formal to say "lower than expected" or "less than expected"?

Both phrases are generally acceptable in formal and informal contexts. "Lower than expected" is often used for quantifiable metrics, while "less than expected" can be used more broadly.

What is the difference between "a lower than expected" and "a worse than expected"?

"A lower than expected" typically refers to a quantifiable value being less than anticipated. "A worse than expected" implies a more negative overall assessment or outcome.