constituting less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "constituting less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a quantity or proportion that is smaller than a specified amount. Example: "The new policy will affect employees constituting less than 10% of the workforce."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

(4) Representatives constituting less than 15% of governing board.

Cornell University

Fully sexually mature females were very rare, constituting less than 1% of the total sample.

Fisheries Research

Other, much smaller minorities (constituting less than 5percentt of the population each) include the Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, and Vlachs (Aromani).

Britannica

The various membranes playing these vital roles are composed of roughly equal weight percent protein and lipid, with carbohydrates constituting less than 10percentt in a few membranes.

Britannica

The remaining 20-odd, together constituting less than 1percentt of cell weight, are called trace elements, because they occur in minute quantities.

Britannica

Other much smaller minorities (constituting less than 5 percent of the population each) include the Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, and Vlachs (Aromani).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Arabs constitute less than 20percentt of the worldwide Muslim population.

The New York Times

Muslims constitute less than one-twentieth of the population.

Britannica

And they constitute less than 1% of the electorate.

The Economist

Together they constitute less than one-tenth of the population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Independents preferred him, but they constituted less than 20percentt of the total participants.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "constituting less than", ensure that the context clearly defines what the phrase is referring to. For instance, specify the total amount or population from which the smaller proportion is derived to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "constituting less than" without clearly defining the total from which the percentage or fraction is derived. For example, instead of saying "minorities are constituting less than in the city" clarify what the minority represents, for example, "Ethnic minorities are constituting less than 20% of the city population".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constituting less than" functions as a quantifying expression, specifying that a particular group or amount represents a smaller portion of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig highlight its use in diverse contexts like describing minorities or proportions of cell weight.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

25%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "constituting less than" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to describe a quantity or group that represents a smaller proportion of a whole. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly found in scientific, encyclopedic, and news contexts, and it serves the purpose of providing precise information about relative sizes or proportions. When using this phrase, ensuring clarity by specifying the total amount is vital. Alternatives like "representing fewer than" or "accounting for under" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

representing fewer than

Focuses on representation in numbers, similar to constituting but emphasizing the aspect of portrayal or symbolic quantity.

accounting for under

Highlights the proportional contribution, somewhat interchangeable though more business-oriented.

making up a smaller portion than

Emphasizes the part-whole relationship, offering a more descriptive alternative.

being a minority of

Highlights that it's related with people, and express a reduced amount of something (group of people).

falling below

It indicates that the amount is lower than another quantity.

not exceeding

Focuses on the upper limit, emphasizing that the value does not surpass a certain point.

a fraction below

Expresses the closeness of an amount, specifying that a small piece is lower than another entity.

lesser than

Focuses on the comparison between two amounts.

smaller than

Focuses on an amount that is diminished.

under

In this case the expression is more generic.

FAQs

How can I use "constituting less than" in a sentence?

The phrase "constituting less than" is used to indicate that a particular group or quantity represents a smaller portion of a whole. For example, "Renewable energy sources are "constituting less than" 15% of the total energy supply".

What are some alternatives to "constituting less than"?

You can use alternatives like "representing fewer than", "accounting for under", or "making up a smaller portion than" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "constituting less than"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase ""constituting less than"" is a standard way to express that something forms a smaller percentage or portion of a whole.

How does "constituting less than" compare to "less than"?

While "less than" simply indicates a smaller quantity, ""constituting less than"" specifies that the smaller quantity is a part of a larger whole. For example, "The budget allocated to marketing is "less than" 10% of the total" versus "Marketing expenses are "constituting less than" 10% of the total budget".