be a less reliable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a less reliable" is not correct in standard English.
It should be phrased as "be less reliable" or "be a less reliable option." Example: "This method may be a less reliable choice compared to the traditional approach."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

TheGoogle Flu Trends project, which claimed, with much fanfare, to anticipate seasonal flu outbreaks by tracking user searches for flu-related terms, proved to be a less reliable predictor of outbreaks than a simple model of local temperatures.

The New Yorker

"In investment theory there is no reason why carefully estimated future earnings should be a less reliable guide than the bare record of the past," he wrote.

Forbes

Protein over-expression has tended to be a less reliable basis for credentialing gene targets or for development of predictive biomarkers.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Yet, expression of actin stress fibers by dermal fibroblasts appeared to be a less reliable feature in the evaluation of the tissue response to mechanical constrains.

Clinical interventions in aging

Considering the widespread prevalence of CTX-M-14-ESBL-producing organisms and this inoculum effect, cefepime may be a less reliable agent for therapy of serious ESBLs infection.> -wrap-foot> aP = 0.001 by chi-square test.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Because H-bonds, especially weak ones, can be easily deformed in crystal lattices, the H-bond angle tends to be a less reliable discriminator of strong vs weak bonds.

Chemical Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Mounting evidence suggests, however, that per-capita income is a less reliable measure of well-being when income inequality has been rising rapidly, as it has in recent decades.

The New York Times

That's a less reliable method than the new study, Alderman said.

The Guardian

Bottled water is a less reliable line of business for them.

The New York Times

It seems lasting progress in poor communities is a less reliable outcome than gentrification.

The Guardian

I do so to note that he is a less reliable ally in the partisan fight against relativism than many conservatives believe.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "be less reliable" or "be a less reliable option" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Be mindful of redundant phrasing. Instead of "be a less reliable", consider if simply "be less reliable" better conveys your intended meaning without sacrificing grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a less reliable" functions as a comparative description, aiming to convey that something possesses a lower degree of reliability compared to something else. However, Ludwig AI's analysis suggests it's grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be a less reliable" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically questionable. A more accurate and clearer phrasing would be "be less reliable" or "be a less reliable option". Although commonly used in both scientific and news contexts, writers should strive for grammatical precision to enhance clarity and avoid potential misinterpretations. When aiming to express a reduction in trustworthiness, dependable alternatives such as "be more unreliable" can also be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be more unreliable

Changes the degree of reliability, focusing on the negative aspect.

be a more questionable option

Replaces "reliable" with "questionable", indicating doubt in the choice.

become more untrustworthy

Replaces "reliable" with "trustworthy", intensifying the negative connotation.

prove less dependable

Uses "dependable" instead of "reliable", implying a failure to meet expectations.

offer lower accuracy

Shifts focus to "accuracy", highlighting a lack of precision.

exhibit reduced consistency

Emphasizes "consistency" as a measure of reliability.

be a frailer option

Replaces "reliable" with "frailer", suggesting weakness or instability.

be of lower quality

Focuses on the decline in overall quality.

show a decline in validity

Emphasizes a reduction in validity, indicating a loss of factual accuracy.

turn more uncertain

Shifts to "uncertainty", implying a lack of confidence.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "be a less reliable"?

The grammatically preferred phrasing is "be less reliable" or "be a less reliable option". For example, "This method may "be less reliable" than the traditional approach".

Is "be a less reliable" grammatically correct?

While used in some contexts, "be a less reliable" is considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "be less reliable" or rephrase it as "be a less reliable option".

What can I say instead of "be a less reliable"?

Consider alternatives such as "be more unreliable", "be a more questionable option", or "prove less dependable" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

How does using "be a less reliable" affect the clarity of my writing?

Using the grammatically questionable phrase "be a less reliable" might slightly reduce clarity. Opting for "be less reliable" or "be a less reliable option" enhances precision and avoids potential confusion for your reader.