are much less frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are much less frequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the frequency of two or more items, indicating that one is significantly less common than the other. Example: "In recent years, paper letters are much less frequent than emails."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In myotonic dystrophy although contractions of the CTG repeats are much less frequent than expansions, they are more frequently transmitted by males [ 33].

BioMed Research International

Today's cars and circuits are safer, for drivers and spectators, and fatalities are much less frequent.

The Guardian - Sport

It should be noted, however, that shark attacks are much less frequent than other aquatic mishaps.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The staff bowling parties and other social events that the company once held regularly are much less frequent.

The New York Times

The broadband and multi banded electromagnetic emissions extending from the fast magnetosonic band well above fn > fc are characteristic for the strong wave activity and are much less frequent.

Advances in Space Research

The dominant sequences are those that result in a methane explosion and occur with a frequency of 6.5 × 10−8 year−1, while the other sequences are much less frequent.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Boats to Calvi are much less frequent, but it's worth organising your travel around a direct ferry unless you want to have a small breakdown when you get the quote from the cab driver.

The Guardian - Travel

Even when these people are discovered, arrests for the purpose of deportation are much less frequent; such arrests dropped to about 8,600 last year from 22,000 just two years earlier, the I.N.S. reports.

The New York Times

Yet, estimates of community respiration rates are much less frequent than those of primary production, particularly in the Arctic Ocean where community respiration rates had thus far been evaluated only in the dark11,12,13,14,15.

Nature

This means planning your days carefully, and with little help: exploring Iceland in winter is an afterthought in guidebooks, and organized bus excursions from Reykjavik are much less frequent.

The New York Times

"Fortunately for us, heart attacks are much less frequent".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the frequency of events or phenomena, ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being compared. For example, specify the time frame or group being considered to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "are much less frequent" without specifying the comparison group or timeframe. Without context, the statement lacks informative value and can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are much less frequent" functions as a comparative descriptor. It qualifies a subject by indicating that its occurrence is substantially lower compared to something else, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are much less frequent" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something occurs significantly less often compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and provides numerous examples across various domains. The analysis indicates that it is most prevalent in scientific and news contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the basis for comparison to avoid ambiguity and enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are considerably less frequent

Replaces "much" with "considerably", intensifying the degree of infrequency.

are significantly less frequent

Substitutes "much" with "significantly", emphasizing the statistical importance of the reduced frequency.

are substantially less frequent

Replaces "much" with "substantially", highlighting the magnitude of the reduced frequency.

are far less frequent

Uses "far" instead of "much", providing a slightly more informal tone while conveying a similar meaning.

are much less common

Replaces "frequent" with "common", offering a simpler and more general way to express reduced occurrence.

are much less regular

Substitutes "frequent" with "regular", indicating a decrease in consistent occurrence.

are much less prevalent

Replaces "frequent" with "prevalent", focusing on the reduced widespread presence of something.

occur much less often

Rephrases the sentence to use "occur" instead of "are", highlighting the action of happening less.

are much less numerous

Changes "frequent" to "numerous", emphasizing a reduction in the quantity or count of something.

are much less widespread

Replaces "frequent" with "widespread", indicating that something is less commonly distributed or found.

FAQs

How can I use "are much less frequent" in a sentence?

Use "are much less frequent" to compare the occurrence of two or more things, indicating one happens considerably less often than the other. For example, "Today, handwritten letters "are much less frequent" than emails".

What are some alternatives to "are much less frequent"?

You can use alternatives such as "are considerably less frequent", "occur much less often", or "are much less common".

Is it grammatically correct to say "are much less frequent"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "are much less frequent" and "are less frequent"?

"Are much less frequent" implies a greater difference in frequency compared to "are less frequent". The addition of "much" emphasizes the significant reduction in occurrence.