come less

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression 'come less' is not correct in written English.
It does not make sense in context and is not a commonly used phrase. If you want to say that someone should reduce their frequency of appearing, you could say something like, "Please come less often."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The cats do seem to come less.

The New Yorker

The rains come less now, he said.

The New York Times - Travel

Now we're pushed way back" because they come less frequently.

The New York Times

The terror in terrorism today must come less from method than from motive.

The New Yorker

When he went to Spain or to Africa, the letters would come less frequently.

The New Yorker

Resistance will come less from the opposition than from vested interests in his own party.

The Economist

Olivia and her mother come less often, and usually not together.

The New Yorker

The contractors' trucks have come less and less often of late.

The Economist

Their struggles come less than two years after winning the national championship in 2005.

The New York Times - Sports

The reports come less than a week after Sony reported that its profits plunged 98percentt.

The New York Times

They are accomplished at high end, but more informal propositions come less easily.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing the sentence to use a more explicit verb, such as "visit less often" or "appear less frequently", to convey the intended meaning more directly.

Common error

Avoid using "come less" as a direct substitute for "occur less frequently" or "happen less often" due to its awkward phrasing and potential for misinterpretation. Using grammatically correct and clear alternatives ensures your message is accurately conveyed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come less" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to modify the frequency of an action. Ludwig AI identifies that this expression is not correct in written English and it is rarely encountered in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "come less" appears in various contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect and not preferred in formal English. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a non-standard expression. Although its intended meaning is to indicate a decrease in frequency, more precise and grammatically sound alternatives, such as "occur less frequently" or "happen less often", are recommended for clarity. Ludwig examples show that the phrase is mostly used in news and media sources. Therefore, when aiming for accurate and effective communication, opting for grammatically correct alternatives is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occur less frequently

Focuses on the frequency of an event happening.

happen less often

Similar to "occur less frequently" but uses more common vocabulary.

visit less often

Specifically refers to a decrease in the frequency of visits.

appear less frequently

Emphasizes a reduction in appearances or visibility.

arrive less often

Indicates a decrease in the frequency of arrivals.

is reduced

Emphasizes the reduction in something and is grammatically correct.

diminish

Focuses on a gradual decrease in impact or strength.

decline in frequency

Formally indicates a reduction in how often something happens.

reduce in number

Highlights a decrease in quantity rather than frequency.

becomes infrequent

Shifts the focus to the state of being infrequent.

FAQs

Is "come less" grammatically correct?

While used in some contexts, "come less" is not considered standard English. It's often better to use phrases like "occur less frequently" or "happen less often" for clarity.

What does "come less" mean?

The phrase "come less" generally implies a decrease in frequency or quantity. However, it's not always clear, making it preferable to use more explicit alternatives such as "visit less often" or "appear less frequently".

Which is a better phrase to use, "come less" or "happen less often"?

"Happen less often" is generally a better choice because it's grammatically correct and widely understood. "Come less" can sound awkward and might not be immediately clear to the reader.

Are there situations where "come less" is acceptable?

While not standard, "come less" might be acceptable in informal conversation. However, for formal writing or when clarity is crucial, it's best to opt for alternatives such as "is reduced" or other more precise phrasings.