be much less common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be much less common" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs infrequently or is not widely observed compared to something else. Example: "In urban areas, certain species of birds may be much less common than in rural settings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This form of persistence seems to be much less common than triggered persistence.

Nature

I think if we were all willing to look at our own behavior more honestly, abuse would be much less common.

The Guardian

Dr Ma's model predicts that individual clumps will be much less common, which is why they have not been directly seen by gravitational lensing.

The Economist

"Deaths from bowel cancer could, and should, be much less common," he said.

BBC

Some subgraphs (motifs) would be much more common while others (anti-motifs) would be much less common than expected.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Slemon tells me that Pokémon will spawn outside of their preferred weather, they'll just be much less common.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Today, that is much less common.

The Economist

Anterior pituitary dysfunctions were much less common.

Stanford University

It is much less common than epididymitis.

Harvard University

The other argots are much less common.

MIT Technology Review

They are much less common in New York.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be much less common", ensure the comparison is clear. Specify what it is less common than to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "Spontaneous persistence seems to "be much less common" than triggered persistence."

Common error

Avoid using "be much less common" without a clear point of reference. Saying "This is much less common" leaves the reader wondering what it is less common than. Always provide a comparison or context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be much less common" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating a lower frequency or prevalence. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to express that something is significantly rarer than something else. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use across different domains, highlighting relative infrequency.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be much less common" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative expression to indicate that something occurs with significantly lower frequency compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across diverse domains, including science, news, and academia. When employing this phrase, ensure a clear comparison to avoid ambiguity and maximize clarity. The varied examples available through Ludwig can further aid in understanding its contextual application and nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be significantly rarer

Emphasizes the reduced occurrence using "rarer", implying a greater difference in frequency.

occur far less frequently

Focuses on the frequency of occurrence, using "far less" to strengthen the comparison.

be substantially reduced

Highlights the reduction in quantity or number, suggesting a considerable decrease.

be markedly diminished

Stresses a noticeable decrease or reduction in something.

be considerably infrequent

Emphasizes the lack of frequency, using "considerably" to amplify the effect.

be appreciably scarcer

Highlights the scarcity or limited availability of something.

be notably exceptional

Indicates that something is significantly different, almost to the point of being an outlier.

be distinctly uncommon

Stresses the lack of commonality, making it stand out from the norm.

be generally atypical

Indicates a departure from what is typical or expected.

be largely aberrant

Suggests a deviation from the standard or normal, often with a negative connotation.

FAQs

How can I use "be much less common" in a sentence?

Use "be much less common" to compare the frequency of one thing relative to another, indicating that the first occurs significantly less often. For example: "Complications from the surgery "be much less common" now than they were 20 years ago."

What's a good alternative to "be much less common"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be significantly rarer", "occur far less frequently", or "be substantially reduced", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is much less common" or "are much less common"?

The correct form depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use "is much less common" for singular subjects and "are much less common" for plural subjects. For example: "This type of error is much less common." versus "These types of errors are much less common."

How does "be much less common" compare to "be rare"?

"Be rare" indicates something that occurs infrequently in general. "Be much less common" implies a direct comparison, suggesting that one thing is significantly less frequent than another. "Be rare" is a general statement of infrequency, whereas "be much less common" sets up a comparative relationship.