are much less so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are much less so" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare two or more subjects, indicating that one is significantly less in a certain quality or characteristic than the other. Example: "While the first option is highly effective, the alternatives are much less so in terms of efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"Busy parks are much less so.

The New York Times

Others are much less so.

Harvard Business Review

"The boys are much less so".

The New York Times - Magazine

Humans are incredibly data efficient, the recent breakthroughs in AI, are much less so.

The Guardian

The snag is that provision is uneven, and whereas some premises are swish, a handful are much less so.

The Guardian

Finally, with regard to gender issues, Egyptian and Tunisian women are only slightly less conservative than men, while in Libya, they are much less so.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It is much less so now.

The New York Times - Food

The mobile world, with its widely popular smartphone apps, is much less so.

The Economist

"It used to be very glamorous... it's much less so today," she said.

The Guardian - Film

If she is confused today, she might be much less so tomorrow.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pediatricians were the most likely to have one; internists, pathologists and surgeons were much less so.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are much less so", ensure that the comparison is clear and that the context provides enough information for the reader to understand what is being compared. For example, "While some strategies are effective, others "are much less so" in the long run".

Common error

Avoid using "are much less so" without a clear reference point. Ensure your sentence explicitly states what is being compared; otherwise, the phrase becomes vague and confusing. Instead of saying "This method is much less so", specify "This method is "are much less so" effective than the previous one".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are much less so" functions as a comparative construction, indicating that the subject is significantly lower in a certain attribute or quality compared to another. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's a standard English expression used for contrasting degrees.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are much less so" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative expression. As verified by Ludwig AI, it clearly communicates that one thing is considerably lower in a specific quality compared to another. It's common in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts, implying a versatility across various registers, mainly on the neutral to formal side. When employing this phrase, guarantee that the comparison is explicit to circumvent ambiguity. Alternatives, such as "are significantly lower" or "are considerably less", can provide nuanced ways to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are significantly lower

Indicates a notable difference in degree or amount. Stronger emphasis on the degree of difference.

are considerably less

Similar to "significantly lower", but may suggest a more subjective assessment of the difference.

are far less

Emphasizes the extent to which something is not the case.

are substantially reduced

Focuses on the action of reducing something and the significant degree of that reduction.

are not nearly as

A more informal way of indicating that something does not reach a certain level or degree.

are to a lesser extent

More formal and explicitly refers to the extent or degree to which something is true.

are not as

A simpler way of conveying a reduced degree. Implies a smaller difference between the compared entities.

differ significantly

Shifts the focus to the difference itself rather than the degree of something being less.

pale in comparison

Emphasizes the contrast by making one thing seem weak or insignificant relative to the other.

lack the same degree

Highlights the absence of a certain level or quality.

FAQs

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

Use "are much less so" to compare two or more things, indicating that one has significantly less of a particular quality. For example, "While some strategies are effective, others "are much less so"".

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

You can use alternatives like "are significantly lower", "are considerably less", or "are far less" depending on the context.

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

Yes, the phrase "are much less so" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to indicate a lower degree of something compared to something else.

What is the difference between "are much less so" and "are somewhat less so"?

The phrase "are much less so" indicates a significant difference, whereas "are somewhat less so" suggests only a slight or moderate difference.