far lesser offense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far lesser offense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the severity of two offenses, indicating that one is significantly less serious than the other. Example: "While the first violation was severe, the second was a far lesser offense that warranted a lighter penalty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As journalistic offenses go, fudging a quote is a far lesser offense than making up a character, and here again Mitchell was not alone at The New Yorker or elsewhere.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

While we once might have held on to a TV set even after one of its knobs had broken, or to a toaster long after it could perfectly brown a slice of bread, today we're more likely to throw our iPads out the window for far lesser offenses.

The New York Times

Minor quibbles, perhaps, for a half-hour comedy, but queens have gotten the boot from "RuPaul's Drag Race" for far lesser offenses.

Huffington Post

He can decide a lesser offense.

The New York Times - Sports

(He pleaded guilty to a lesser offense).

The New York Times

"In enforcing the lesser offenses, we often have encounters with people who are prone to do more than that lesser offense".

The New York Times

Crossing over the pitcher's mound would seem to be a lesser offense.

The New York Times - Sports

The use of stimulants is considered a lesser offense than that of anabolic steroids.

The New York Times - Sports

Offering jurors the option of convicting on a lesser offense is a common tactic by prosecutors.

The New York Times

The Wallabies are a far lesser team without him.

The Guardian - Sport

"On a far lesser scale to Jude," she says.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far lesser offense" when you want to downplay the severity of a particular action in comparison to another, more serious one.

Common error

Avoid using "far lesser offense" when the difference in severity between actions is negligible. Overstating the contrast can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far lesser offense" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective phrase. It describes a type of infraction or wrongdoing that is significantly less serious than another. As Ludwig AI points out, this comparison highlights a difference in severity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far lesser offense" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for emphasizing a notable difference in the severity of two offenses. As reported by Ludwig AI, it frequently appears in news and media, encyclopedia, and science contexts. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the scale of severity you're illustrating to avoid undermining your message. Consider alternatives such as "much smaller transgression" or "significantly minor infraction" depending on your desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much smaller transgression

Replaces "far" with "much" and "offense" with "transgression", altering the intensity and formality.

significantly minor infraction

Substitutes "far lesser" with "significantly minor" and "offense" with "infraction", emphasizing the comparative triviality.

considerably slighter violation

Replaces "far lesser" with "considerably slighter" and "offense" with "violation", suggesting a notable reduction in severity.

markedly reduced wrongdoing

Uses "markedly reduced" instead of "far lesser" and "wrongdoing" for "offense", highlighting the contrast in seriousness.

distinctly lighter misdeed

Employs "distinctly lighter" for "far lesser" and "misdeed" for "offense", conveying a clear difference in culpability.

noticeably smaller breach

Substitutes "far lesser" with "noticeably smaller" and "offense" with "breach", focusing on the reduced scope of the violation.

appreciably less serious crime

Replaces "far lesser" with "appreciably less serious" and "offense" with "crime", adjusting the perceived gravity of the action.

a much more trivial matter

Rephrases the concept using "a much more trivial matter", shifting from legal terminology to a more general description.

relatively unimportant act

Uses "relatively unimportant act" to convey the idea of a minor offense, employing more common vocabulary.

a less consequential misstep

Expresses the idea of a minor offense as "a less consequential misstep", focusing on the limited impact of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "far lesser offense" in a sentence?

You can use "far lesser offense" to compare the severity of two actions. For example: "While the initial crime was severe, the subsequent violation was a "far lesser offense" and resulted in a reduced penalty."

What's a good alternative to "far lesser offense"?

Alternatives include "much smaller transgression", "significantly minor infraction", or "considerably slighter violation", depending on the desired tone and context.

Is it appropriate to use "far lesser offense" in formal writing?

Yes, "far lesser offense" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in legal or journalistic contexts where precise comparisons of severity are needed. However, consider alternatives like "significantly minor infraction" for a more elevated tone.

What is the difference between "lesser offense" and "far lesser offense"?

"Lesser offense" indicates that an action is less serious than another, while "far lesser offense" emphasizes that the difference in severity is substantial. The addition of "far" amplifies the contrast.