but less because

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but less because" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate a lesser degree of something due to a specific reason, but it lacks clarity. Example: "I enjoy the movie, but less because of the plot and more because of the cinematography."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Taking his classes had a big influence on my work, but less because of his own fiction, which I love, and more because of his vast knowledge of writers and great fiction.

The New York Times

In the film, Knox seems successful at remaining chaste, but less because she took a pledge than because she has a fearlessly independent mind and the kind of parents who — despite their own conservative leanings — admire her outspokenness.

The New Yorker

What she found were plenty of traumatized children — but less because of the terrorist attack than because of the simple fact that so many of them were growing up in poverty.

The New York Times

In the film, Knox seems successful at remaining chaste, but less because she took a pledge than because she has a fearlessly independent mind and the kind of parents who despite their own conservative leanings admire her outspokenness.

The New Yorker

This has been an extraordinary conference season, but less because of what has happened at the three gatherings than because of what has been happening in the world beyond.

The Guardian - Opinion

Analysts said the election results probably contributed to the drop in the Spanish stock market yesterday, but less because of worries about the economic policies of the Socialists than because investors hate the unexpected.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It makes them more important" -- because they're against a division rival -- "but less important because you're playing them so many more times".

The New York Times - Sports

This is rather obvious because methods can exploit the choice of prior, but less obvious because current methods of validation tend to miss this point.

F1000Research

"Paradise: Faith" is just as extreme, but less satisfying because its disgust outweighs its compassion.

The New York Times

"It occurs in first class and business class, too, but less frequently because there are fewer seats," Dr. Goldhaber said.

The New York Times - Travel

To shed Hamilton's semi-toxic contract, which runs through 2013, the Pistons will acquire Murphy's, which is expensive ($12 million) but less toxic, because it expires this summer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger conjunctions or rephrasing if the cause is only very weakly related.

Common error

Avoid using "but less because" repeatedly in close proximity as it can make your writing sound repetitive and weaken the impact of your arguments. Vary your sentence structure and use alternative phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but less because" functions as a conjunction to introduce a subordinate clause expressing a weaker causal relationship or a secondary reason. It contrasts a given reason with another, more significant one. This is demonstrated in Ludwig's examples where various situations are explained, not primarily due to one reason, but rather another.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but less because" serves to diminish the impact of one reason while contrasting it with a more significant one. Ludwig AI's analysis and examples indicate that it is grammatically acceptable, though not exceedingly common, and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI suggests it's a useful tool for nuanced explanations, but it is recommended to use alternative phrasing when appropriate. It can be used to signal that while a reason might contribute, other factors are more significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though not primarily because

Emphasizes that the reason is secondary, not the main one.

but to a lesser extent due to

Highlights the reduced impact of the reason.

yet not so much because

Suggests the given reason is not the principal cause.

however, not mainly because

Introduces a contrast, indicating a different primary reason.

although it's not chiefly because

Implies the reason is not the foremost consideration.

while not principally due to

Indicates the reason is secondary in importance.

but not so much attributable to

Less direct attribution to the reason.

however, not as a result of

Indicates that the outcome is not primarily a result of the stated reason.

though secondarily because

Clearly identifies the reason as secondary.

but rather due to

Presents an alternative reason to the preceding one.

FAQs

What does "but less because" mean?

The phrase "but less because" indicates that a particular reason is not the primary or strongest cause of something. It suggests that while the reason might contribute, other factors are more significant.

How can I use "but less because" in a sentence?

You can use "but less because" to contrast a secondary reason with a more important one. For example, "The project failed, "but less because" of poor planning and more because of lack of funding."

What can I say instead of "but less because"?

You can use alternatives like "though not primarily because", "but to a lesser extent due to", or "yet not so much because", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "but less because"?

Yes, "but less because" is grammatically acceptable. Ludwig AI provides several examples from reputable sources, demonstrating its usage in various contexts, and Ludwig AI validates this conclusion.