are less off

USAGE SUMMARY

"are less off" is not correct in written English.
The phrase you are looking for is "are worse off." For example, those living in poverty are usually worse off than those with steady salaries.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He is longer and straighter off the tee, with misses that are less off line.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Though she is considered as tough as her husband, she can be less off-putting.

The New York Times

Mr. Bush wanted to look smarter, and Mr. Gore, chastened by criticism over the last week, wanted to be less off-putting.

The New York Times

This quality is less off-putting in Ivana, whose career didn't start with a million-dollar loan from her father.

The New Yorker

It's good that the town is plugged in to this national event, but then Anglesey in general and Beaumaris in particular is less off-the-beaten-track than many people think.

The Guardian - Sport

The €300,000 price tag (£244,000) might seem hefty, but it is likely to be less off-putting for a couple whose combined wealth, according to Forbes estimates last year, totals $30m $18mm).

The Guardian - Music

Such relative modesty is a concession to the notion that more women buy the paper at the weekends, as the title hopes to be less off-putting to a female audience.

The Guardian

We found that consciously selecting characters that are not "real" and more cartoony or fantastical ensured people's expectations of their behavior in the real world were not pre-set, and flaws in the animation were less off-putting.

TechCrunch

If this log-ratio was negative, then there were less off-frame codons than expected.

BMC Genomics

"Young bands are growing up in a culture where there's less off that discussion happening, less of those underlying issues being addressed," Mr. Kaskie said.

The New York Times - Arts

"Patients are less well off without psychotherapy," she writes near the end of her book.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "are less off" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "are worse off".

Common error

Ensure correct preposition usage. The phrase "are less off" should be replaced with alternatives like "are worse off" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are less off" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a standard phrase in English. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect. The intended function, based on similar phrases, would be to indicate a state of disadvantage or being in a worse condition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are less off" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Although some instances of its usage can be found, it's essential to opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "are worse off" or "are less fortunate" to ensure clarity and maintain credibility in writing. Avoid this phrase in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are worse off

Emphasizes a negative comparison in condition or situation.

are less fortunate

Highlights a lack of advantages or good luck.

are at a disadvantage

Focuses on the lack of a favorable position or opportunity.

are in a poorer state

Indicates a decline or deficiency in condition.

are less prosperous

Refers to a reduced level of financial success or wealth.

are disadvantaged

Highlights the state of being in an unfavorable circumstance.

are less privileged

Indicates a lack of special rights or advantages.

are struggling more

Emphasizes an increased difficulty or hardship.

are in greater need

Focuses on a higher level of necessity or requirement.

are more deprived

Highlights the lack of essential resources or opportunities.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct alternative to "are less off"?

A more grammatically sound alternative to "are less off" is "are worse off", which correctly conveys a state of being in a disadvantaged position.

When is it appropriate to use "are less off"?

It is generally not appropriate to use "are less off" in formal or academic writing. Stick to standard English and use alternatives like "are less fortunate".

What does "are less off" typically mean?

While grammatically incorrect, "are less off" is sometimes used informally to imply that someone or something is in a disadvantaged or worse situation compared to others. It is better to use "are at a disadvantage" for clarity.

How can I avoid making mistakes with similar phrases?

Pay attention to the correct usage of prepositions. Instead of saying "are less off", consider options such as "are in a poorer state" to ensure grammatical correctness.