exists less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exists less than" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to compare quantities or values, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The number of participants in the study exists less than the number of expected attendees."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This consists of analgesics (if desired by the patient) and antiviral medication if the rash exists less than 72 hours [ 9].

BMC Anesthesiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We have glimpsed a galaxy 13.3bn light years away, as it existed less than 500m years after the big bang.

The Guardian - Books

It says something about this particular moment that it's possible to be nostalgic for the world that existed less than a year ago.

The New Yorker

The Tea Party, which did not even exist less than two years ago, has benefited from this anger, and last night established itself as a force in US politics.

The Guardian

The transcontinental railway was completed in 1869 and in 1890 the superintendent of the census declared that a frontier line no longer existed, less than a century after Lewis and Clark had opened it.Symptomatically, the story ended unhappily for the main participants.

The Economist

Most galaxies that existed less than a billion years after the big bang may not have grown bright enough for the lens to expose, Benitez speculates.

Science Magazine

Therefore, there exist less than k2 users in U2 together having all the permissions in P2 (let U1 = U2), and therefore, s a t e 2 is false.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The multiple species community existed less than a year, but the colonization of Vallisneria natans was successful and reached a biomass of 430.6 g m−2 in the shallow enclosure after one year of succession.

Ecological Engineering

But recently, a survey has found several quasars--bright cores of galaxies, powered by matter falling into a supermassive black hole--that existed less than a billion years after the big bang.

Science Magazine

The chairwoman was probably correct in calling it something Twitter hadn't yet seen, given that the numbers being pinned on Obama existed less than a week into his presidency and were instead reflective of the crippling recession that was already underway.

Huffington Post

Ideally, the study of WGDs requires multiple genome sequences (Wong et al. 2002; Woods et al. 2005; Scannell et al. 2007), but currently there exist less than five genome sequencing and annotation efforts within the Mollusca (Chapman et al. 2007).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing quantities or durations, prefer grammatically correct alternatives like "is less than" or "is fewer than" for clarity. For instance, instead of saying "The time it "exists less than" a minute", say "The time it is less than a minute".

Common error

Avoid using "exists" when you simply mean something is smaller or shorter. Overusing "exists" can make your writing sound awkward. Instead of saying "The margin for error "exists less than" 5%", opt for "The margin for error is less than 5%".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exists less than" is used to establish a comparison, indicating that something is smaller in quantity or duration, but this phrasing is grammatically awkward. Ludwig AI indicates that is not correct, suggesting more conventional alternatives should be favoured.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "exists less than" appears in various contexts, including scientific and news media, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. Standard alternatives like "is less than" or "is fewer than" are preferred for clarity and grammatical accuracy. While moderately frequent, using clearer alternatives will enhance the overall quality and precision of your writing. Always choose grammatically sound options in formal and scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is smaller than

Focuses on physical size or quantity being lower.

is fewer than

Specifically refers to a smaller number of countable items.

is lower than

Indicates a reduced level, amount, or intensity.

is shorter than

Emphasizes a reduced length or duration.

is beneath

Implies a lower status or position, often in a metaphorical sense.

is under

Suggests being below a certain limit or threshold.

is less extensive than

Indicates a smaller scope or range.

is not as much as

Emphasizes the difference in quantity or amount.

is a fraction of

Highlights that something is only a portion of something else.

is but a shadow of

Suggests that the resemblance is very vague.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "exists less than"?

You can replace "exists less than" with phrases like "is less than" or "is fewer than", depending on whether you're referring to something quantifiable or countable.

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

Use "is less than" to compare quantities, measurements, or abstract concepts. For example, "The cost is less than expected".

When should I use "is fewer than" instead of "exists less than"?

Use "is fewer than" when discussing countable items. For example, "There are fewer than ten students in the class", rather than "There exists less than ten students in the class".

What's the difference between "exists less than" and "is less than"?

"Exists less than" is generally grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. "Is less than" is the standard and correct way to express that one quantity is smaller than another.