a quantity less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quantity less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing numerical values or measurements to indicate that one value is smaller than another. Example: "The recipe calls for a quantity less than two cups of flour."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Euler rejected the concept of infinitesimal in its sense as a quantity less than any assignable magnitude and yet unequal to 0, arguing: that differentials must be zeros, and dy/dx the quotient 0/0.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Our single-molecule fluorescence approach two-color coincidence detection (TCCD) can overcome such limitations as it requires a minimal quantity (less than femtomoles) of labeled components.

Biochemistry

Goods vehicles with transportable quantity less than 18 tons, goods vehicles with transportable quantity more than 18 tons, divided in: articulated lorry, lorry with trailer.

European Transport Research Review

Goods vehicles with transportable quantity less than 18 tons represent about the 14% of trucks; they move about 10 tons per vehicle and hence, considering the average ratio with vehicle capacity, they have the highest load factors.

European Transport Research Review

Table 6 reports the estimated vehicle type shares and the relative average transported quantities Open image in new window for the following vehicle types v: Goods vehicles with transportable quantity less than 18 tons, goods vehicles with transportable quantity more than 18 tons, divided in: articulated lorry, lorry with trailer.

European Transport Research Review

§ 35.392 Training for the oral administration of sodium iodide I-131 requiring a written directive in quantities less than or equal to 1.22 gigabecquerels (33 millicuries).

Cornell University

The Whig legislature had passed a bill promoted by temperance activists that banned the sale of liquor in quantities less than 15 USgal; this effectively outlawed service over a bar.

Wikipedia

After softening, the lead goes to desilvering kettles, where small quantities (less than 1 percent by weight) of zinc are added.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In cirrus1 and orographic wave clouds2, highly supercooled water has been observed in small quantities (less than 0.15 g m-3).

Nature

To avoid biological saturation, the amount of target RNA must be present in quantities less than the amount that the cDNA on the microarray slide can bind.

Plosone

Numbers in bold were considered as significant variations represented by relative mRNA quantities less than 0.5 or up to 2. n.d.: not determined.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a quantity less than", ensure that the units of measurement are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "a quantity less than 5 kilograms" rather than just "a quantity less than 5".

Common error

Avoid comparing dissimilar quantities. For example, don't say "the speed was a quantity less than the temperature". Ensure you're comparing like units: speed to speed, temperature to temperature etc.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quantity less than" functions as a comparative qualifier, modifying a noun or noun phrase. It specifies that the amount or extent of something is smaller than a given value. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts to set limits or describe amounts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

24%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a quantity less than" is a grammatically sound and widely used comparative qualifier. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions to set boundaries or thresholds, indicating that an amount is smaller than a specified value. This phrase appears frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When using "a quantity less than", ensure clarity by specifying units and comparing like quantities. Alternatives include "an amount below" or "a figure under". Overall, this phrase is a versatile tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an amount below

Replaces "quantity" with the more general term "amount".

a figure under

Uses "figure" to represent a numerical value and "under" to indicate it's less than a certain point.

a value below

Substitutes "quantity" with "value", emphasizing the numerical worth.

an extent smaller than

Replaces "quantity" with "extent", focusing on the degree or size.

a degree lower than

Uses "degree" to suggest a level or intensity that is inferior.

a volume less than

Specifies "volume" when referring to capacity or amount of space.

a proportion smaller than

Uses "proportion" when referring to the ratio or fraction of a whole.

a fraction below

Specifies "fraction" when dealing with parts of a whole that are less than a certain limit.

a minority under

Emphasizes that the quantity is not only less but also represents a smaller group or share.

a measure beneath

Replaces "quantity" with "measure", indicating the dimension or size and "beneath" in order to specify a value lower than something else.

FAQs

How can I use "a quantity less than" in a sentence?

You can use "a quantity less than" to compare amounts. For example, "The recipe requires "a quantity less than" 10 grams of salt."

What's a simple way to rephrase "a quantity less than"?

Alternatives include /s/an+amount+below or /s/a+figure+under, depending on the context.

Is it better to say "less than a quantity" or "a quantity less than"?

"A quantity less than" is generally preferred for clarity, placing the known quantity first. "Less than a quantity" may be used in specific idiomatic contexts, but is typically less clear.

What's the difference between "a quantity less than" and "no more than"?

"A quantity less than" indicates a value that is strictly smaller, while "no more than" indicates a value that can be equal to or smaller than the specified amount.