flu less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flu less than" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to compare the flu to something else, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "The flu is less than a common cold in terms of severity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Center Evan Eschmeyer came down with the flu less than 48 hours after he received a flu shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Compared with seasonal flu, less than half of the participants believed that A/H1N1 would result in a higher fatality rate (36%, n=108), higher infectivity (42%, n=126), and more severe bodily damage (33%, n=95; table 2).

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Scientists from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Tokyo looked at 43 laboratory-confirmed cases from Kobe and reported this week that those who had been vaccinated did not seem to get swine flu less often than other patients.

The New York Times

The new technology, a microchip covered with bits of genetic material from many different flu strains, cuts the typical time needed for diagnosis of the A(H5N1) flu to less than a day from a week or more.

The New York Times

By contrast, the development of a vaccine for swine flu took less than six months.

The New York Times

Also, participants received a vaccine containing the same antigens as the previous year's formulation, and all had had a flu shot less than one year earlier.

The New York Times - Health

No one knows if people will be eager to be vaccinated; about 100 million Americans a year get seasonal flu shots — less than 40percentt of those for whom the shots are recommended.

The New York Times - Health

Thus we are entering what looks like a severe flu season with less than optimal protection.

The New York Times

The 302 beds occupied by flu patients represented less than one in 10 of all intensive care beds, she said.

Independent

A mobile scanner that can detect whether a person has Ebola, HIV or the flu virus in less than one hour has been developed.

BBC

All the odds ratios for flu vaccines were less than one during the period before official announcement of the HPAI H5N2 outbreaks.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the flu to something else, always specify what aspect you are comparing, such as severity, frequency, or impact. For instance, use phrases like "less severe than the flu" or "less common than the flu."

Common error

Avoid using "flu less than" without specifying what you are comparing. This creates ambiguity and makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Instead, complete the comparison with a specific attribute, for example, "the flu is less severe than pneumonia".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flu less than" functions as an incomplete comparative. It attempts to compare the flu to something else but lacks the necessary information to form a complete and meaningful comparison. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "flu less than" is grammatically incorrect due to its incomplete comparative structure. It requires specifying what aspect of the flu is being compared. Based on Ludwig AI, it does not convey a clear meaning in written English. To rectify this, use phrases like "less severe than the flu" or "less common than the flu". While some examples exist, they highlight the necessity of completing the comparison to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Reliable sources such as The New York Times and British Medical Journal have been identified that the phrase is wrong so, avoid using "flu less than" in its incomplete form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less severe than the flu

Replaces a general comparison with a specific comparison of severity.

not as bad as the flu

Uses a more informal way to compare the negative impact.

flu is less common than

Shifts the comparison to the frequency of occurrence.

the flu is not as prevalent as

Emphasizes the widespread nature of the comparison subject, unlike the flu.

flu is milder compared to

Focuses on a comparison of the intensity or mildness of the flu.

flu is of a lower magnitude than

Emphasizes the scale or size of impact in the comparison.

the flu has a reduced effect compared to

Highlights the comparative impact or consequence.

lower risk than the flu

Focuses the comparison on relative risk levels.

flu impact is smaller than

Quantifies the impact, indicating a smaller degree.

flu is secondary to

Establishes a hierarchy, positioning the flu as less important.

FAQs

How can I use "flu less than" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "flu less than" is incomplete. To use it correctly, specify what aspect of the flu you are comparing, such as severity, frequency, or impact. For instance, "the flu is "less severe than" pneumonia".

What's a good alternative to "flu less than"?

Instead of "flu less than", consider using phrases like "less common than the flu", "less severe than the flu", or "not as bad as the flu" to provide a clear comparison.

Is it grammatically correct to say "flu less than"?

No, "flu less than" is grammatically incorrect because it's an incomplete comparison. You need to specify what aspect of the flu you are comparing, followed by what it is being compared to.

What's the difference between "flu less than" and "less affected by the flu than"?

"Flu less than" is grammatically incorrect and lacks meaning. In comparison, "less affected by the flu than" is a complete and grammatically sound way to express that something or someone is not as strongly influenced or impacted by the flu compared to something else.