far less than

USAGE SUMMARY

"far less than" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to contrast one figure with a larger one. For example: "The cost of the repairs was far less than the cost of the new car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

About 50%, far less than is typical.

The Economist

"That's far less than $280".

The New York Times

They know far less than we do.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That is far less than earlier estimates.

The New York Times

Most of us get far less than this.

Stanford University

Most charities pay their leaders far less than corporate executives.

The New York Times

But that is far less than will be required.

The New York Times - Health

In truth, a Congressional budget accomplishes far less than advertised.

The New York Times

For transcription, though, speed matters far less than cadence.

The New York Times - Sports

And he would probably serve far less than that.

The New York Times - Sports

And he pandered far less than I expected him to.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far less than" to emphasize a significant difference between two quantities or qualities. It adds a degree of emphasis that "less than" alone might not convey.

Common error

Avoid using "far less than" when a simple "less than" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic or verbose. For example, instead of saying "The meeting took far less than an hour", you can say "The meeting took less than an hour".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far less than" functions as a comparative determiner phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that the quantity or degree is significantly smaller than a reference point. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far less than" is a grammatically correct and frequently used comparative phrase that emphasizes a significant difference between quantities or qualities. According to Ludwig AI, it's a valid English phrase and used to contrast a value with a larger one. It is most commonly found in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's best used when highlighting a substantial disparity and should be avoided in simple comparisons where "less than" suffices. Consider alternatives like "considerably less than" or "significantly less than" for formal contexts, and be mindful of using "fewer than" for countable items.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably less than

Emphasizes a notable difference in quantity or degree; more formal.

significantly less than

Highlights a substantial difference; suitable for formal contexts.

much smaller than

Focuses on size or scale differences; more direct and simple.

substantially below

Indicates a value or amount is lower than a specific benchmark; formal.

well below

Emphasizes a comfortable margin below a given value; commonly used.

appreciably under

Highlights a noticeable difference; suitable for technical or formal language.

markedly lower than

Emphasizes the noticeable contrast between the values.

noticeably less than

Highlights a difference that is easily observed.

a good deal less than

This is slightly more informal way to indicate something is markedly smaller than something else.

nowhere near as much as

Strongly emphasizes the difference in quantity or amount; informal.

FAQs

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

Use "far less than" to highlight a considerable difference in amount or degree. For instance, "The actual cost was "far less than" the initial estimate".

What are some alternatives to "far less than"?

Alternatives include "considerably less than", "significantly less than", or "much smaller than", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "far less than" or "much less than"?

"Far less than" emphasizes a greater disparity compared to "much less than". The choice depends on the degree of difference you wish to highlight.

When is it better to use "fewer than" instead of "less than"?

Use "fewer than" when referring to countable items (e.g., "fewer than five students"), and "less than" for uncountable quantities (e.g., "less than a gallon"). "Far fewer than" and "far less than" maintain the same distinction but with added emphasis.