been much lower than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been much lower than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing a quantity or value that has consistently been at a lower level than another reference point. Example: "The temperatures this winter have been much lower than the average for this time of year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Economic growth this year has so far been much lower than our initial estimate in December".

The Guardian - Business

Mr Aziz also said that the number of casualties had been much lower than expected.

The Guardian

Premiums for beneficiaries and costs to the government have been much lower than projected.

The New York Times

The radiation releases in Japan so far have been much lower than what the Rabit was designed for.

The New York Times - Science

In the past, official GDP figures have been much lower than his own estimates, but now the gap has disappeared.

The Economist

Because of the clinic's experience in implanting cable, he said, the failure rate at his hospital has been much lower than at other medical centers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

This is much lower than previous estimates.

The Economist

That is much lower than previous estimates.

The Economist

Unemployment was much lower than now.

The New York Times

Our costs are much lower than yours".

The Guardian

Unemployment is much lower than had been expected.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "been much lower than", ensure the comparison is clear and the context provides a reference point for what is being compared. For example, "Sales this quarter have been much lower than projected" clarifies the basis of comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "been much lower than" without specifying what is being compared against. For instance, saying "Prices have been much lower than before" is vague; specify the period or benchmark for clearer understanding. For example, specify that "Prices have been much lower than last year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been much lower than" primarily functions as a comparative, indicating that something is less in quantity, degree, or value compared to something else. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in contrasting economic growth, radiation levels, and pledge responses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been much lower than" is a versatile comparative expression widely used to indicate that something is significantly less than another point of reference. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and prevalent usage across diverse contexts make it a valuable tool for conveying discrepancies, shortfalls, or inferior states. While the phrase is suitable for neutral registers, clarity and specificity are essential when using it to avoid vague comparisons. Alternatives like "been significantly less than" and "fallen far short of" offer nuanced ways to express similar comparative relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been significantly less than

Emphasizes a notable difference in magnitude.

been considerably smaller than

Highlights a substantial reduction in size or amount.

been substantially below

Indicates a significant downward deviation from a specific level or standard.

been markedly inferior to

Focuses on a distinct difference in quality or performance.

not been nearly as high as

Uses a negative construction to emphasize the disparity in levels.

fallen far short of

Implies a failure to reach a desired or expected level.

remained well under

Suggests a consistent state of being below a certain threshold.

lagged significantly behind

Indicates a slower pace or progress compared to another benchmark.

been a fraction of

Highlights a very small proportion relative to another quantity.

paled in comparison to

Emphasizes that something seems insignificant when compared to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "been much lower than" in a sentence?

Use "been much lower than" to compare a current or recent value to a previous one, an expectation, or a standard. For instance, "This year's profits have "been much lower than" last year's profits due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's the difference between "been much lower than" and "been significantly lower than"?

"Been significantly lower than" implies a larger difference or a more important distinction compared to ""been much lower than"". The former emphasizes the importance of the difference.

Which is more formal, "been much lower than" or "been considerably less than"?

"Been considerably less than" is slightly more formal and often used in academic or professional writing compared to ""been much lower than"". Both are acceptable, but context matters.

What are some alternatives to "been much lower than"?

You can use alternatives like "been significantly less than", "been considerably smaller than", or "fallen far short of depending on the context.