a significantly less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significantly less" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where a comparison is being made, but it should be followed by a noun to be grammatically correct. Example: "There was a significantly less amount of rainfall this year compared to last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Salomon Kalou and the CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia will provide a significantly less intimidating frontline than one featuring Drogba.

The Guardian - Sport

White British men, with a score around -1.4, have a significantly less egalitarian attitude in comparison.

Independent

A significantly less wholesome friendship is at the heart of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (Fox, 15), which arrives on DVD shelves at the perfect time.

The Guardian - Film

It has been a significantly less interesting complement to the men's game since Henin shocked the sport by announcing her retirement in May of last year.

The New York Times - Sports

Women's tennis has been a significantly less interesting complement to the men's game since Justine Henin shocked the sport by announcing her retirement in May 2008.

The New York Times - Sports

It turns out he was just being congratulated for being Eastern Conference player of the week, a significantly less stressful turn of events.

The Guardian - Sport

"There are answers for Microsoft, but all of them entail a significantly less profitable business model," said David B. Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School.

The New York Times - Tech

But over the last few decades, the jobless rate has become a significantly less useful measure of the country's economic health.

The New York Times

Mr. Singer was instead required merely to patch the parts of the facade that needed repair — a significantly less expensive job.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

But as a stretched single-aisle plane the A321 is a significantly less-than-ideal aircraft for serving such long-haul routes.

Forbes

After selling Reddit, Alexis moved on to start two other companies and was instrumental in defeating a bill that would have led to a significantly less-open Internet.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significantly less", ensure it is followed by a noun to create a grammatically correct phrase. For example, "a significantly less amount of rainfall".

Common error

Avoid using "a significantly less" without a noun following it. This creates a grammatically incomplete phrase. Instead, specify what is significantly less, such as "a significantly less risky approach".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significantly less" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjective phrase, that describes the degree to which something is reduced or diminished. Ludwig AI highlights that this phrase is commonly used, yet grammatically questionable unless followed by a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

46%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a significantly less" is used to emphasize a notable reduction or decrease. While grammatically questionable without a following noun, it is a very common phrase, appearing frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase requires a noun for grammatical correctness. Consider alternatives like "considerably less" or "noticeably less" for clearer communication. To ensure correctness, always specify what is "significantly less", such as "a significantly less amount" or "a significantly less intense level".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably less

Emphasizes the degree of reduction is noteworthy.

noticeably less

Highlights that the reduction is easily observed.

appreciably less

Indicates the reduction is substantial and important.

markedly less

Suggests a clear and distinct decrease.

substantially less

Implies a significant difference in quantity or degree.

somewhat less

Indicates a slight or moderate decrease.

slightly less

Denotes a minimal reduction.

significantly smaller

Replaces 'less' with 'smaller' to focus on size or amount.

considerably reduced

Uses 'reduced' to emphasize the action of decreasing.

noticeably diminished

Highlights the reduction's impact on visibility or importance.

FAQs

How to use "a significantly less" in a sentence?

Ensure "a significantly less" is followed by a noun to complete the phrase grammatically. For example, "This resulted in "a significantly less amount of waste"".

What can I say instead of "a significantly less"?

You can use alternatives like "considerably less", "noticeably less", or "appreciably less" depending on the specific context. Also, consider rephrasing with "a considerably smaller" or "a notably reduced".

Is it correct to say "a significantly less" without a noun?

While commonly used, "a significantly less" is grammatically incomplete without a noun following it. It is better to specify what is significantly less to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness. Consider options such as "substantially less effort" or "markedly less time".

What's the difference between "a significantly less" and "a considerably less"?

Both phrases indicate a notable reduction, but "significantly" suggests a more pronounced or impactful difference than "considerably". You can use either, depending on the degree of reduction you want to convey. In general, the grammatical construction is the same: both expressions should be followed by a noun. You might consider variations like "a significantly smaller amount" or "a considerably reduced risk".