demand less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "demand less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing expectations or requirements that are lower than a specified amount or standard. Example: "The company decided to demand less than the market rate for their services to attract more clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

General Electric recently previewed a refrigerator loaded with gee-whiz bar code technology, but has found consumer demand less than compelling.

The New York Times

Deutsche Bank was given a fillip on hopes that the Department of Justice would accelerate its talks over a settlement for a decade-old mis-selling scandal but demand less than the initial $14bn.

The Guardian - Business

Typical Egyptian offices with natural ventilation and local cooling systems under personal control have electricity demand less than 50% of centrally serviced buildings.

Energy and Buildings

Results show that 11% of cases analyzed can be considered near zero-energy buildings (annual energy demand less than 10 kWh/m2 y).

Energy and Buildings

Asthmatic subjects had PC20 < 8 mg/ml, a morning prebronchodilator FEV1 ≥ 85% of the predicted value and required only a short acting β2-agonist on demand less than 4 times a week.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Johnson consumed those who worked for him, and perhaps no one resisted his demands less than Valenti.

The New Yorker

Although more time is necessary to process the fingerprint for CD when compared to CO (Table 2), this fact does not impact its performance since it demands less than a millisecond to execute (0.033 ms).

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Palestinians are demanding less than 22percentt of Palestine; they have made many concessions for peace.

Huffington Post

AliView loads large alignment files 2 14 times faster and demands less than half of the memory resources than comparable alignment editors (Table 1; Supplementary Table S1A C).

Bioinformatics

Friend the Member for Aldershot [Sir Gerald Howarth] ever known a regulator demand less regulation rather than more?

The Guardian

Pedometers are simple to use, low-cost, accurate [ 7] and demand less staff resources than traditional face-to-face approaches.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "demand less than", ensure the context clearly defines what is being demanded and the standard against which it is being compared. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "demand less than" when a simple reduction or decrease is meant without a specific comparison. For example, instead of saying "The project demanded less than expected", clarify if it's about time, resources, or effort and specify the comparison: "The project demanded less time than initially estimated."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "demand less than" functions as a comparative, indicating that the requirements or expectations are lower than a certain threshold or previous standard. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "demand less than" is a grammatically correct and usable comparative phrase that conveys reduced requirements or expectations. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English. While versatile, it is relatively rare, appearing most frequently in news and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being demanded and the point of comparison. Consider softer alternatives like "require fewer than" or "ask for less than" in situations where a less assertive tone is preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require fewer than

Focuses on a lower quantity of requirements, shifting the emphasis from "demand" to "requirement".

need fewer than

Replaces "demand" with a focus on necessity. The phrase specifies a smaller quantity of items or resources.

ask for less than

Replaces "demand" with the more polite "ask", softening the tone while conveying a similar reduction in expectation.

request a smaller amount

Uses "request" to soften the demand and emphasizes the reduced quantity desired.

expect less than

Shifts the focus to anticipation rather than explicit request, implying a downward adjustment of expectations.

desire a lower quantity

Highlights a reduced aspiration using 'desire' and emphasizes reduced amount of something

settle for less than

Highlights acceptance of a lower standard or amount, suggesting compromise or limited options.

accept less than

Emphasizes willingness to take a reduced amount or standard, highlighting consent rather than demand.

lower expectations to

Focuses on reducing the level of anticipation or requirement, indicating a proactive adjustment.

reduce requirements to

Highlights a decrease in the necessary conditions or qualifications, emphasizing simplification or ease.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "demand less than" to sound more formal?

In a formal context, you can replace "demand less than" with phrases like "require fewer than" or "stipulate a lower amount" to convey a similar meaning with greater precision.

Is it always appropriate to use "demand less than" in professional writing?

While grammatically correct, "demand less than" can sometimes sound assertive. Consider the context and audience. In sensitive situations, softer alternatives like "ask for less than" or "expect less than" might be more suitable.

What is the difference between "demand less than" and "require less than"?

"Demand less than" implies a strong assertion or claim for a reduced amount, while "require less than" simply indicates that a smaller quantity is needed. The former carries more force and urgency.

Can I use "demand less than" when referring to abstract concepts?

Yes, you can use "demand less than" when referring to abstract concepts like time, effort, or resources. For example, "The new software "demands less than" half the memory of the previous version."