far less alarming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far less alarming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the level of alarm or concern between two situations, indicating that one is significantly less alarming than the other. Example: "While the initial report was concerning, the follow-up findings were far less alarming than we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Far less alarming was another kind of high pitch, or rather, series of high pitches that insinuated themselves very early on a December morning near Stamford.

The New York Times

What might have been disturbing seemed faintly ridiculous, certainly far less alarming for all these polite but futile attempts at decency.

The Guardian - Arts

As frightening as Jenkins' statement sounded, he was far less alarming under cross-examination.

Vice

No doubt most Americans would find the prospect of a Jillette Presidency far less alarming than the prospect of a McAfee Presidency.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It should be noted, however, that there was far less alarm in the geographic area targeted by this study, because other parts of the country (Galicia) had been more severely affected previously and the local authorities were consequently that much better prepared.

BMC Public Health

The damage was far less, of course, but the degree of alarm agreed with the establishment's anxiety.

The New Yorker

Despite the important role that primate alarm calls have played in the search for the roots of human language, and having been identified as a flexible, context and audience-dependent behaviour requiring sophisticated cognitive processes (Zuberbühler 2007), far less is known about geographic variation in primate alarm calls.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

But what sets off alarm among some politicians in Europe is far less likely to raise hackles at the central bank.

The New York Times

The vibration setting on the SleepTracker watch I reviewed has turned out to be a far less agitating way to start the day than waking up to a blaring alarm clock.

TechCrunch

And... OO Soil Crisis Brought About By Climate Change May Hit Global Food Production, claims alarming new research, which reveals that soil microbes, vital to soil fertility, appear to be far less adaptable to climate change than once thought.

Huffington Post

Some need far less.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two situations, use "far less alarming" to clearly indicate a significant difference in the level of concern. For example, "The initial reports were alarming, but the subsequent findings were "far less alarming"".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "far less alarming" may sound too casual in highly formal writing. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "significantly less concerning" or "appreciably less disturbing" for professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far less alarming" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically intensifying the degree to which something is 'alarming'. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It serves to qualify a noun or situation by indicating a reduced level of perceived threat or concern. For example, 'The situation seemed "far less alarming" after the intervention'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far less alarming" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating a significant reduction in the level of concern or threat associated with a situation. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, highlighting its suitability for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While the phrase is generally considered neutral in register, remember that in high-formal writing, it might be better to use alternatives like "significantly less concerning". To improve your writing, use this phrase to directly contrast two situations, emphasizing the decreased level of concern. When it's important to not sound too casual, avoid this phrase in your formal papers. The most common use is in "News & Media" and "Science".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly less concerning

Emphasizes the notable reduction in concern, highlighting a considerable difference in the level of worry.

much less worrisome

Uses a more common term, "worrisome", to indicate a lower degree of anxiety or apprehension.

considerably less frightening

Focuses on the reduced fear factor, suggesting that something is substantially less scary.

appreciably less disturbing

Highlights the diminished level of unease or disruption caused by something.

noticeably less unsettling

Indicates a perceived decrease in the level of discomfort or disquiet.

markedly less intimidating

Suggests that something has become substantially less daunting or menacing.

substantially less disquieting

Emphasizes that something is significantly less likely to cause anxiety or restlessness.

relatively benign

Uses a more direct term to indicate harmlessness in comparison to a previous alarming perception.

not as scary

Simplifies the phrase to make it easily understood and less formal.

less of a cause for concern

Rephrases the idea, focusing on the reduced reasons to be worried.

FAQs

How can I use "far less alarming" in a sentence?

Use "far less alarming" to compare two situations where one causes significantly less concern than the other. For example, "The prospect of increased taxes was initially worrying, but the revised proposal is "far less alarming"".

What's a more formal alternative to "far less alarming"?

In formal contexts, you might prefer phrases like "significantly less concerning", "considerably less worrisome", or "appreciably less disturbing" instead of "far less alarming".

Is "far less alarming" grammatically correct?

Yes, "far less alarming" is grammatically correct. It uses "far less" as an intensifier to indicate a significant reduction in the level of alarm, modifying the adjective "alarming".

How does "far less alarming" compare to "not as alarming"?

"Far less alarming" suggests a more substantial difference in the level of concern than "not as alarming". The former implies a considerable reduction, while the latter simply indicates a smaller degree of alarm.