done less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "done less than" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and may lead to confusion without additional context. Example: "The project was done less than expected in terms of quality."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

We have good reason to think the Fed has done less than it could have.

The Economist

I don't drive it that often, it's done less than 100 miles.

The Guardian - Sport

You are done less than an hour after you first sit down in the dentist's chair.

The New York Times

Europe, it seems, has done less than America to assimilate the children and grandchildren of newcomers.

The Economist

That has happened, but it has done less than expected to change the power dynamic and has caused much suffering.

The New York Times

The three collectively in five years have done less than Djindjic managed to do in two on his own.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

We did less than good".

The New York Times

You can even do less than inflation".

The New York Times

But Washington has been doing less than its share.

The New York Times

Sometimes they do less than that — with serious side effects.

The New York Times

Can we possibly do less than honor that promise?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing completed tasks or achievements, clarify the context to ensure your meaning is easily understood. For instance, specify what was "done less than" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure the comparative element is clearly defined when using "done less than". Without proper context, the comparison is unclear, so make it explicit what the action or quantity is being compared to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "done less than" functions as a comparative, indicating that an action or task was completed to a lesser degree than a specified or implied standard. It introduces an element of comparison, often implying a deficiency or shortfall. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

19%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "done less than" appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news and media, it is flagged by Ludwig AI as not correct in standard written English. This is because the phrase can be ambiguous and less clear than alternative expressions. To improve clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using alternatives such as "accomplished less than" or specifying the deficiency explicitly. Therefore, although common, it's advisable to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accomplished less than

Emphasizes the quantity of achievement, similar to "done less than" but clearer.

achieved less than

Focuses on the level of success attained, offering a more precise meaning.

performed worse than

Highlights the comparative aspect of the performance, indicating a lower standard.

not as effective as

Indicates a deficiency in effectiveness compared to something else.

did not complete as much as

Focuses on the quantity of completed work.

fell short of

Implies a failure to reach a certain standard or expectation.

insufficiently executed

Highlights the inadequacy in the execution of a task or plan.

substandard performance

Directly addresses a performance that is below the required level.

inadequate fulfillment

Emphasizes the lack of satisfactory completion or realization.

lacked completion

Indicates the absence of full completion of the work.

FAQs

What does "done less than" mean?

The phrase "done less than" indicates that something was completed to a smaller extent or with lower quality compared to something else. However, it's often unclear without additional context.

What can I say instead of "done less than"?

You can use alternatives like "accomplished less than", "achieved less than", or "performed worse than" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "done less than" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "done less than" is considered not correct in standard written English. Alternatives like "not as effective as" or specifying the deficiency explicitly often provide greater clarity and grammatical correctness.

How can I make my writing clearer when using comparative statements?

To enhance clarity, specify the subject and the point of comparison. Instead of "it was done less than", try "the project was "not as successful as" expected" or "the team achieved less than anticipated".