even less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "even less than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two quantities—to show that one is smaller than the other. For example: "He had even less money than he expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Many earn even less than $27,000.

The New York Times

Maybe even less than that.

The Guardian - Books

Even less than one second.

The New York Times - Sports

Even less than the dunk contest.

The New Yorker

Maybe even less than I did on the iPad.

The New York Times

Pathologically deceitful repeat offenders do it even less than most.

Independent

Other Republican aspirants bring him up even less than that.

The New York Times

Look closer, and you'll see it's even less than that.

The Guardian - Music

She gave to those with even less than herself.

The Guardian

"Maybe even less than a day," Mr. Ashley said.

The New York Times

Without me you'd be even less than you already are".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "even less than" to highlight a significant reduction or deficiency, especially when the initial amount was already small or insufficient. This emphasizes the extent of the reduction. For example, "The budget was tight, but this year it's even less than last year."

Common error

Avoid using "even less than" when the difference is negligible or irrelevant. Ensure that the reduction or deficiency being described is meaningful in the context. For example, don't say "The room was clean, even less than yesterday" if the cleanliness level is essentially the same.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even less than" functions as a comparative expression. It is used to indicate that one thing is smaller, fewer, or of a lower degree compared to another, emphasizing that the difference is significant. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "even less than" is a grammatically sound and commonly used comparative expression. As validated by Ludwig, it effectively emphasizes a significant reduction or deficiency. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various applications. To enhance your writing, ensure that the difference you're highlighting is meaningful. If in doubt, alternatives such as "considerably less than" or "substantially below" can provide similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even a smaller amount than

Focuses on the amount being reduced, emphasizing the diminished quantity.

considerably less than

Highlights a significant difference in quantity, indicating a notable reduction.

substantially below

Emphasizes that the quantity is not only less but also falls significantly under a certain threshold.

appreciably lower than

Stresses that the difference is noticeable or measurable.

markedly less than

Highlights a clear and distinct difference, making the reduction prominent.

noticeably smaller than

Focuses on the visibility of the difference, making it apparent.

a reduced quantity compared to

Directly compares a smaller quantity against another for emphasis.

even a fraction of

Emphasizes that the reduced amount is almost insignificant relative to the reference point.

a mere shadow of

Uses figurative language to express a drastic reduction, indicating something is significantly diminished.

insignificantly less than

Underscores that the difference is so small it's almost negligible.

FAQs

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

Use "even less than" to indicate that something is smaller or of a lower degree compared to something else. For instance, "He has "even less than" he had before."

What are some alternatives to saying "even less than"?

You can use phrases such as "considerably less than", "substantially below", or "markedly less than" to express similar ideas. For example, instead of saying "even less than", you could say "considerably less than" to emphasize the difference.

Is it correct to say "even lesser than" instead of "even less than"?

While "lesser than" is acceptable, "even less than" is more common and often preferred for emphasis. "Even lesser than" might sound awkward or redundant in some contexts. You can find "even lesser than" usage examples in Ludwig.

What is the difference between "less than" and "even less than"?

"Less than" simply indicates that one quantity is smaller than another. Adding "even" emphasizes that the difference is more significant or surprising. For example, "He expected less than that, but he got "even less than" he anticipated."