a tad less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tad less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small amount or degree that is slightly below a certain value or quantity. Example: "The temperature today is a tad less than 70 degrees, making it a pleasant day for a walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Counting all the preliminaries, finals and his approximately nine-second blast down the stretch in Friday's final race, Bolt has spent 325 seconds - a tad less than 5 1/2 minutes - sprinting on the track at the Olympics since he made his debut in Beijing eight years ago.

The Telegraph

Real Madrid said it had paid marginally less than that, a tad less than the fee that it paid Manchester United to acquire Ronaldo in 2009.

The New York Times - Sports

The euro-area economy grew by 0.7% in the year to the third quarter, only a tad less than America (and somewhat faster than Britain).

The Economist

The effective sure-kill range of "the world's first smart rifle" is a thousand yards — a tad more than half a mile, a tad less than a kilometre.

The New Yorker

The effective sure-kill range of "the world's first smart rifle" is a thousand yards a tad more than half a mile, a tad less than a kilometre.

The New Yorker

But if we look at the next game, still controlling for the position of the suspended player, the combined effect of an expulsion and a penalty has almost the same magnitude: a loss of 0.44 goals (at a confidence level of eighty-two percent), just a tad less than the 0.50 goals in the previous estimate.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

So Mormon conservatism takes an independent, and softer, line on immigration than, say, the Bible-Belt folk of the South.Oklahoma is a tad less cosmopolitan than, say, New York, but its politics have been pretty complex.

The Economist

The sour curry ($9) was hot, too, if a tad less scorching than the som tum.

The New York Times - Food

The steering seems a tad less connected than the 7's.

The New York Times

DESPITE Ms. DeGarmo's nomadic training, she was a tad less enthusiastic than Mr. DeGarmo about this latest posting.

The New York Times

They were better, a lot better — sweeter, richer and mellower, though maybe a tad less transcendent than my memory of Uncle Shel's haul.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tad less than" when you want to express a small or slight difference, indicating that something is just a little bit smaller, lower, or fewer in quantity or degree than something else. It's suitable for informal writing and conversation.

Common error

While "a tad less than" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing or presentations. In such settings, alternatives like "slightly less than" or "marginally below" can provide a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tad less than" functions as a qualifier, specifically indicating that something is somewhat smaller, lower, or fewer than something else. As Ludwig AI states, it signifies a slight difference or degree.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tad less than" is a useful phrase for expressing that something is slightly smaller, lower, or fewer than something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its suitability for expressing subtle differences, commonly found in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to consider the formality of your writing and choose alternatives like "slightly less than" for more formal contexts. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can effectively incorporate "a tad less than" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly smaller than

Emphasizes the size difference being marginal.

a bit smaller than

Uses "bit" for a more informal tone.

marginally less than

Highlights the quantitative aspect of the difference.

somewhat lower than

Focuses on a reduction in a quantitative aspect.

just below

Simplifies the comparison to a position.

a shade under

Uses a metaphorical comparison to "shade", implying a subtle difference.

fractionally lower than

Stresses the minute extent of the disparity.

scarcely less than

Indicates the values are near parity, nearly equal.

hardly under

Implies closeness to a threshold without quite reaching it.

minutely inferior to

Conveys the sense of a negligible difference in quality or amount.

FAQs

How to use "a tad less than" in a sentence?

Use "a tad less than" to indicate a small difference. For example, "The price is "a tad less than" I expected" means the price is slightly lower than your expectation.

What can I say instead of "a tad less than"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly less than", "a bit smaller than", or "marginally less than" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a tad less than" or "a little less than"?

Both "a tad less than" and "a little less than" are correct and commonly used, but "a tad less than" sounds slightly more refined. The choice depends on the desired tone and the specific context.

What's the difference between "a tad less than" and "slightly less than"?

"A tad less than" is more informal and suggests a very small difference, while "slightly less than" is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The nuance depends on how subtle you want the difference to seem.