adapt less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adapt less than" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts comparing the degree of adaptation between two subjects or situations, but it is not commonly used. Example: "In this scenario, the new system seems to adapt less than the previous one."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the one-cursor condition, however, the unperturbed hand also changed its initial direction, such that it opposed the force field [t(7) = 7.89, p <.001], allowing the perturbed hand to adapt less than in the two-cursor condition [t(7) = 2.67, p = 0.032].

Current Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In addition, they may adapt less well to having cancer than older survivors [ 40].

BMC Cancer

The learning rate, α(t ): In order for the map to converge to a stable state after the training phase, the neurons will have to adapt less in the latter cycles than at the beginning.

Cognitive Computation

Those costly bad starts led to suggestions that Hamilton is adapting less easily than Rosberg to a new type of manual clutch operation used to get the two Mercedes cars off the line.

The Guardian - Sport

But unlike in Hollywood, where more than half of its movies are adaptations, less than 20% of Australian films are adapted from other works.

The Guardian - Film

To meet the requirements of the future, it will be essential to develop new and improved temperate oilseed cultivars adapted to less-than-optimum acreage.

Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology

It is worth mentioning here that Ban Ki-moon, former UN secretary-general, once famously said: "The costs of adapting are less than the cost of doing business as usual.

Vice

These effects likely occur, at least in part, through alterations in an individual's genetic potential to thrive in the environment in which he or she will live in other words, these early challenges set the bar for what's "normal," and the fetus and infant adapt for a less-than-optimal environment in ways that may contribute to adult-onset disease.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Less Than Jake.

WikiHow

To me, adapting to this less-than-inviting setting would indeed be an adventure in learning.

Science Magazine

Sleep research by David Dinges at the University of Pennsylvania has found that adults need eight hours of sleep a night: only 5% of people adapt to sleeping less than eight hours.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adapt less than", ensure the comparison is clear and the context explicitly indicates what is being compared. For instance, specify what adapts less, and compared to what.

Common error

Avoid using "adapt less than" without specifying the objects being compared. This can lead to ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "This plant adapts less than another", specify "This plant adapts less to drought than another plant."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adapt less than" functions as a comparative, indicating a reduced capacity or degree of adaptation in one subject relative to another. As Ludwig highlights, it is grammatically acceptable but not a standard construction, potentially leading to awkward phrasing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "adapt less than" is used to compare the degree of adaptation between two subjects, indicating that one adapts to a lesser extent than the other. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not a common phrase and may sound awkward or clunky in certain contexts. For clearer communication, consider using alternatives like "adjust to a lesser extent than" or "change less compared to". It is most frequently found in scientific and news-related contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and explicit to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adjust to a lesser extent than

Focuses on the degree of adjustment made, emphasizing a smaller degree of change.

modify to a smaller degree than

Highlights the limited degree of modification or alteration in comparison.

change less compared to

Emphasizes a reduced amount of change when compared to a reference point.

transform less than

Implies a smaller degree of transformation or alteration.

evolve at a slower rate than

Highlights a slower pace of evolutionary adaptation.

acclimate to a lower degree than

Focuses on the process of acclimation, indicating a reduced level of adjustment to new conditions.

conform to a lesser extent than

Indicates a reduced amount of conformity or compliance.

be less responsive than

Emphasizes a reduced level of responsiveness or reaction.

show less flexibility than

Highlights a reduced capacity for flexible adjustment.

exhibit a weaker adaptation than

Focuses on the overall strength or effectiveness of the adaptation.

FAQs

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

You can use "adapt less than" to compare the degree of adaptation between two subjects. For example, "The new software adapts less than the old one to different operating systems".

What's a good alternative to "adapt less than"?

Consider using alternatives such as "adjust to a lesser extent than" or "modify to a smaller degree than" for clearer and more common phrasing.

Which is more appropriate, "adapt less than" or "not adapt as much as"?

"Not adapt as much as" is generally more common and easier to understand. "Adapt less than" is grammatically correct, but can sound awkward. You may also consider "adjust to a lesser extent than".

Is "adapt less than" considered formal or informal language?

"Adapt less than" is generally considered neutral in formality, but it can sound somewhat clunky. Opt for clearer and more common phrases like "change less compared to" to enhance readability.