all the less

USAGE SUMMARY

'all the less' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a situation where something is even less likely to happen due to another factor. For example: Since the weather is very cold, the chances of me going out for a jog today are all the less.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

"All in all, the less at-bats, the better".

The New York Times - Sports

The lesson: love someone better, and they'll extend you grace on all the less important things.

Harvard Business Review

Planes are thus more packed than ever, making travel all the less enjoyable.

The New York Times

The exhibit also gives the viewer all the less glamorous nitty-gritty.

The New Yorker

Instead, it merely makes the director's presumed but unrealized intimacy with Halley and Moonee all the less persuasive.

The New Yorker

No doubt the concept of European Union patrols made the idea all the less palatable amid the political games of Westminster.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Somehow, the joys of motherhood are supposed to erase all the less-than-terrific aspects of the job.

Huffington Post

Overall, all the less-conserved miRNAs displayed relatively low expression levels compared to the conserved miRNAs except for miR535, and they, like the conserved miRNAs, displayed differential expression among tissues (Additional file 3: Table S3).

BMC Plant Biology

We didn't reject all of the less conventional gins.

The New York Times - Food

We've all had the less than optimal run-in with 'that guy' at the party.

Huffington Post

Just ask all the less-privileged people underfoot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all the less" to clearly indicate that something is diminished or reduced as a direct consequence of another factor. For example: "Due to the rain, our picnic plans are "all the less" appealing."

Common error

Avoid using "all the less" when a simple comparative adjective would suffice. For instance, instead of saying "This option is "all the less" expensive", use "This option is less expensive."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all the less" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a reduced degree or extent of something. It typically modifies an adjective or another adverb, intensifying the sense of reduction. According to Ludwig AI, it correctly describes when something is even less likely to happen due to another factor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "all the less" effectively conveys a diminished degree or likelihood resulting from a particular condition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness and versatility make it appropriate for various writing styles, from news reports to formal documents. While similar phrases like "even less" offer alternatives, "all the less" provides a unique emphasis on consequential reduction. Its common usage in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian further attests to its reliability and effectiveness in expressing nuanced relationships between events and outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even less

Direct synonym, emphasizes a smaller degree or quantity.

that much less

Emphasizes the degree of reduction.

to a lesser extent

Formally indicates a reduced degree or impact.

all the fewer

Focuses on a smaller number instead of degree.

considerably less

Highlights a significant reduction.

appreciably less

Indicates a noticeable reduction.

noticeably less

Similar to appreciably less, but emphasizes ease of perception.

markedly less

Emphasizes the clear distinction in the reduced amount.

substantially less

Highlights that the reduction is significant and impactful.

considerably reduced

Focuses on the resulting state after the reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "all the less" in a sentence?

Use "all the less" to indicate that something is even less likely or desirable because of a specific reason. For example, "Given the heavy traffic, the idea of driving downtown is "even less appealing"".

What phrases are similar to "all the less"?

Similar phrases include "even less", "that much less", or "to a lesser extent". The choice depends on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "all the less" interchangeable with "all the fewer"?

"All the less" refers to a degree or quantity, while "all the fewer" refers to a number. Use "all the less" when describing intangible qualities and "all the fewer" when discussing countable items.

Can I use "all the less" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "all the less" is less common and might sound awkward. It's generally better to integrate it within the sentence to maintain a smoother flow.