below the cutoff

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "below the cutoff" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It usually refers to something that falls below a specified limit, threshold, or standard. An example of using this phrase could be: "Unfortunately, my test score was below the cutoff for the scholarship I was hoping to receive." This means that the person's test score was lower than the minimum requirement for the scholarship.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ms. Bloomquist's seniority number, 11,370, was below the cutoff.

The New York Times

Mr. Goodman and his colleagues compared the students just below the cutoff with those just above.

The New York Times

That put the school 12 points below the cutoff of 140 for schools in its socioeconomic category.

The New York Times

Vilain says he wonders if men with functional testosterone levels below the cutoff would be allowed to compete as women, even though they are men.

The New York Times - Sports

This year enrollment fell below the cutoff for 5A football, Georgia's highest classification, but the school plans to remain at that level.

The New York Times - Sports

Roughly half of those who did not were just below the cutoff, making it possible that more than 80percentt of the students would pass the test this year — a virtual dream for the school.

The New York Times

And it was incredible: fifteen per cent had testosterone levels during the day that were well below what is set as the lower limit of normal more than fifty per cent below the cutoff".

The New Yorker

But in New York City, 21percentt of seniors scored in the 55-64 range, below the cutoff two years from now, compared with only 3percentt in the suburbs.

The New York Times

b Attenuation curve below the cutoff frequency.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In Fig. 4, all the V values were below the cutoff value of 0.15.

AMB Express

The WAIS scores were at or below the cutoff point in two patients.

EJNMMI Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing quantitative data, clearly state the cutoff value to provide context. For example, instead of saying "scores were below the cutoff", specify "scores were below the cutoff of 70".

Common error

Avoid simply stating a value is "below the cutoff" without including the unit of measurement. Provide context by specifying "below the cutoff level of 5 mg/L" to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "below the cutoff" functions as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a noun or verb to indicate that a value or measurement is less than a specified limit or threshold. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used to indicate a specific standard or minimum has not been reached.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "below the cutoff" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that a value or measurement is less than a specific limit or standard. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts. Its frequency is high, especially in scientific, news, and formal business settings. Related phrases include "under the threshold" and "below the limit". When using this phrase, ensure you provide the specific cutoff value and units of measurement for clarity. As Ludwig shows, this term is prevalent in authoritative sources, ensuring its reliability and appropriateness in various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under the threshold

This alternative emphasizes the idea of being less than a specified minimum requirement.

below the limit

This option highlights the concept of not exceeding a certain boundary or restriction.

less than the minimum

This is a more explicit and straightforward way of saying something doesn't meet the minimum requirement.

under the required level

Focuses on not reaching a necessary or expected standard.

falling short of the standard

This emphasizes the failure to meet a specific standard or expectation.

not meeting the criteria

This alternative highlights the aspect of failing to satisfy specific conditions or requirements.

outside the acceptance range

This option shifts the focus to a range of acceptable values, indicating that the value is not within that range.

beneath the benchmark

This indicates performance or a value lower than a point of reference.

not up to par

This suggests a failure to meet the expected level of quality or performance.

subceeding the criteria

This emphasizes the idea of something being less than what is needed or required

FAQs

How can I use "below the cutoff" in a sentence?

You can use "below the cutoff" to indicate that a value, score, or level is less than a specified limit. For example, "His test score was "below the cutoff" required for admission."

What are some alternatives to saying "below the cutoff"?

Alternatives include phrases like "under the threshold", "below the limit", or "less than the minimum", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "under the cutoff" instead of "below the cutoff"?

While "under the cutoff" might be understood, ""below the cutoff"" is the more common and generally preferred phrase in formal writing.

What's the difference between "below the cutoff" and "above the cutoff"?

"Below the cutoff" indicates that something is less than a specific value or standard, while "above the cutoff" means it exceeds that value or standard.