are far less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are far less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare quantities or degrees, indicating that one amount is significantly smaller than another. Example: "The resources available for this project are far less than what we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The cuts are far less than they could have been.

The New York Times

Office rents, however, are far less than the partners expected.

The New York Times

It says the medical effects of radiation are far less than was thought.

The Guardian

The results indicate that the Sherwood numbers are far less than the limit of two for a single particle.

Chemical Engineering Science

However, those commitments only run to 2020, and are far less than the cuts scientists say are needed.

The Guardian

In addition, for certain configurations, it is easy to derive upper bound solutions, the load bearing capacity of which are far less than those predicted in EC3.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

"Currently, most incentives are far less than $1,000 for a family plan and much lower for people who just have individual coverage," Dr. Dobro said.

The New York Times - Health

Analysis of the pressure drops showed that for these miniature PEMFCs, the energy losses due to the pressure drops can be neglected because they are far less than the cell output power.

Journal of Power Sources

The widening value formulas of continuous bends currently in use cannot meet the requirements of the practical engineering because the values of them are far less than the realistic situation needs.

Procedia Engineering

The law, she said, could inadvertently create an incentive for employers to discontinue coverage because the financial penalties for not offering insurance are far less than the cost of providing it.

The New York Times - Health

They did not hire their first employee until 2010, and they moved to an office in Philadelphia, where costs are far less than in New York or San Francisco.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing countable items, consider using "are far fewer than" instead of "are far less than" for better accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "are far less than" when referring to countable nouns. Instead, use "are far fewer than" to maintain grammatical accuracy. For example, it's better to say "there are far fewer apples than oranges" rather than "there are far less apples than oranges".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are far less than" serves as a comparative adjective phrase. It indicates that the subject being described is significantly smaller, lower, or of lesser extent than another entity. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are far less than" is a versatile comparative phrase used to emphasize a substantial difference between two entities or values. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used in diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. When employing this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a significant disparity and consider using "are far fewer than" when comparing countable items. Remember, this phrase is suitable for both formal and informal writing, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary. Ludwig's examples highlight its broad applicability and effectiveness in conveying clear and impactful comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are substantially less than

Replaces "far" with "substantially", indicating a considerable difference.

are significantly less than

Replaces "far" with "significantly", highlighting the importance of the difference.

are considerably less than

Replaces "far" with "considerably", suggesting a noteworthy difference.

are much smaller than

Uses "much smaller" instead of "far less" to express a size comparison.

are markedly less than

Replaces "far" with "markedly", suggesting that the difference is easily noticeable.

are dramatically less than

Replaces "far" with "dramatically", emphasizing a striking difference.

are greatly less than

Substitutes "far" with "greatly", highlighting a large difference.

are far fewer than

Changes "less" to "fewer" to refer to countable items instead of an abstract degree.

are a lot smaller than

Uses an informal tone to express a considerable size difference.

do not come close to

Expresses the difference in a more emphatic way, suggesting a significant gap.

FAQs

How can I use "are far less than" in a sentence?

The phrase "are far less than" is used for comparisons to emphasize a significant difference in amount or degree. For instance, "The risks "are far less than" the potential benefits" shows that the risks are considerably smaller than the benefits.

What's a formal alternative to "are far less than"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "are significantly less than" or "are substantially less than". These alternatives maintain a professional tone while still conveying a noticeable difference.

Is it correct to say "are far less than" for countable items?

No, when referring to countable items, it's more accurate to use "are far fewer than". For example, "The number of errors are far fewer than expected" is grammatically better than using "less".

What is the difference between "are far less than" and "are slightly less than"?

"Are far less than" indicates a substantial difference, whereas "are slightly less than" indicates a minor difference. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to emphasize. If the difference is small, use "slightly"; if it's large, use "far less".