every less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every less" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English usage. Example: "Every less effort put into the project will result in a poorer outcome." (This example is incorrect due to the phrase itself.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And for every less jacked actor are young, attractive stars like Ansel Egort ("Baby Driver"), Michael B. Jordan ("Black Panther"), Zac Efron ("The Greatest Showman") and Daniel Kaluuya ("Get Out"), all of whom could easily play quarterbacks.

Huffington Post

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/23/where-has-real-renee-zellweger-gone It's terrible for anybody to be watched like a hawk for crow's feet, every less than pouty lip, every sagging particle of one's body.

Huffington Post

In our patients who underwent lymphatic mapping, every less radical operation included the removal of all radioactively labeled lymph nodes.

Annals of Surgical Oncology

While 1.0 % checked the temperature every less than 15 min, only 20.6%% checked more than 2 h.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Now you can stand there, phone in hand, tracking BPMs, pointing out every less-than-smooth transition.

Vice

The response categories were "Every day", "Every week", "Every month", "Every six months", "Every year", "Less than once a year" and "Never".

BMC Family Practice

The responses were recoded into "Never", "Infrequent" ("Every six months", "Every year", "Less than once a year") and "Established" ("Every day", "Every week", "Every month") in order to be used as independent variables in logistic regression models.

BMC Family Practice

"You feel every day less and less like a human being".

The New York Times

Every year, less and less money is wagered at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga, the three tracks operated by the New York Racing Association.

The New York Times

It is like being a doctor--you feel you ought to be on call every minute less the patient weakens.

The New Yorker

He said that "every one less Labour MP" made it more likely the Conservatives would be the largest party.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider replacing "every less" with alternatives like "each fewer" for countable nouns or "each reduced" for uncountable nouns, to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "every less" when "each less" or "any less" would be grammatically more appropriate, especially when discussing individual instances or possibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every less" is typically used as a determiner phrase, although its grammatical correctness is questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as an incorrect combination. Examples show it attempting to quantify a reduction or decrease, but more precise phrasing is usually recommended.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "every less" is grammatically suspect and not generally recommended for use in formal English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it appears in some contexts, such as news articles and scientific papers, clearer alternatives like "each less", "any less", or rephrasing with words like "fewer" or "reduced" are preferable for enhanced precision. When in doubt, opting for grammatically sound alternatives ensures the intended message is conveyed effectively. Using "each less" or "fewer" contributes to clearer and more accurate writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each less

Replaces "every" with "each", emphasizing individual instances rather than a collective view.

any less

Substitutes "every" with "any", broadening the scope to include all possible instances.

each reduced

Replaces "less" with "reduced", highlighting the action of decreasing.

every smaller

Substitutes "less" with "smaller", focusing on a reduction in size or magnitude.

each fewer

Employs "fewer" instead of "less", appropriate when referring to countable items.

any diminished

Uses "diminished" in place of "less", indicating a decrease in importance or quality.

each subtracted

Replaces "less" with "subtracted", emphasizing the act of taking away.

any lessened

Substitutes "less" with "lessened", indicating a decrease in intensity or degree.

every undermined

Uses "undermined" in place of "less", suggesting a weakening effect.

each impaired

Replaces "less" with "impaired", emphasizing a reduction in functionality or ability.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "every less" to sound more natural?

Consider using alternatives such as "each less", "any less", or rephrasing the sentence to use "fewer" or "reduced" depending on the context. For example, instead of "every less opportunity", try "each less opportunity" or "fewer opportunities".

When is it appropriate to use "every less"?

While the phrase "every less" appears in some contexts, it's generally not considered standard English. It's usually better to opt for clearer alternatives like "each less" or rephrase the sentence for better grammatical correctness.

What are some common mistakes people make when using "every less"?

A common mistake is using "every less" when "each fewer" is more appropriate, especially when referring to countable items. Another mistake is not considering alternative phrasing that eliminates the need for the phrase altogether.

Is there a difference between using "every less" and "each less"?

While both phrases are not ideal, "each less" is often grammatically preferable to "every less" as "each" emphasizes individual instances, aligning better with the intended meaning. "Every" typically implies a collective or general sense that doesn't fit well with "less".