but less then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but less then" is not correct; it should be "but less than." You can use it when comparing quantities or amounts, indicating that one is smaller than the other.
Example: "The budget for the project is set at $10,000, but less than that will be allocated for marketing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If Snyder's suspicions are correct, in fact, and savants have not more brainpower than the rest of us, but less, then it's even possible that everybody starts out life as a savant.

The New York Times - Magazine

The reduction of iron oxide (Fe2O3) content in the clay to a more reactive form of magnetite Fe3O4 by CO and H2 in the product gas resulted in the clay bed to also exhibit a reduction in C2 C3 emissions compared to silica sand but less then char.

Fuel

Normoglycemia and prediabetes, for the purpose of CVD risk assessment, were defined as a fasting serum glucose less than 100 mg/dL and a fasting serum glucose of more then 100 mg/dL but less then 126 mg/dL, respectively (impaired fasting glucose or IFG: ADA diagnostic criteria [ 26]).

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This kind of Murakami novel is like life, then, but less so yet somehow more so.

The Guardian - Books

It was lighthearted entertainment, but never less then serious about the rhythm.

The New York Times - Arts

In the budget battle of 2011, they won some spending concessions from Obama, but far less then they demanded.

The Guardian - Opinion

These wines tend to be more expensive than producers' entry level, nonvintage brut wines, but cost less then high-end prestige cuvées.

The New York Times - Food

Miami hearts may have been broken but it was no less then Dallas deserved.

The Guardian - Sport

Cohl told me that he was "working on something" along those lines, but "that chances are less then fifty-fifty" that it will pan out.

The New Yorker

Generally, this just means leaving the computer on overnight, but that's sometimes less then ideal.

TechCrunch

"I have heard from older people what it was like before 1994, how you had to carry your pass around with you to go to different areas but the crime was much less then," she says.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "than" for comparisons. Remember that "less than" is grammatically correct when indicating a smaller quantity, degree, or amount.

Common error

Avoid using "then" instead of "than" when making comparisons. "Then" refers to time or sequence, while "than" is used to compare two things. The correct phrase is "but less than".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but less then" functions as an incorrect comparative conjunction. Ludwig AI shows that it attempts to connect two clauses while indicating that the second clause possesses a smaller quantity or degree compared to the first. However, it erroneously uses "then" instead of "than".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but less then" is an incorrect construction. The correct comparative form is "but less than". While Ludwig AI reveals the phrase's usage across different sources, it is crucial to note that the intended meaning is comparison, but the grammar is flawed. It's important to use "than" for comparisons, as "then" refers to time. Using the correct form will ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but less than

Corrects the grammatical error, using 'than' for proper comparison.

but smaller than

Replaces 'less' with 'smaller' to emphasize size or physical dimensions.

but fewer than

Uses 'fewer' instead of 'less' to specifically refer to countable items.

but to a lesser extent than

Adds emphasis on the degree or scope of the comparison.

however, not as much as

Replaces "but" with "however" and uses "not as much as" to express the comparison.

though not as significant as

Emphasizes the difference in significance or importance.

yet not as high as

Focuses on a numerical or quantifiable difference.

but of a lower quantity than

Specifies that the comparison relates to the quantity of something.

but not as substantial as

Highlights a difference in substance or impact.

whereas not as extreme as

Suggests a contrast in intensity or degree.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "but less then"?

The correct way to phrase this comparison is to use "but less than". The word "than" is used for comparisons, while "then" is used to indicate time or sequence.

When should I use "than" versus "then"?

"Than" is used for comparisons (e.g., "This is smaller than that"), while "then" is used to indicate time sequence (e.g., "First do this, then do that"). Remembering this difference will prevent errors like "but less then".

Are there alternatives to saying "but less than"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "but smaller than", "but fewer than" (for countable items), or "not as much as".

How can I remember the difference between "than" and "then"?

A helpful mnemonic is that "than" is used for comparison, and both "than" and "comparison" have the letter 'a'. "Then" indicates time or sequence, and you can remember this by associating it with "when" or "next".