four times less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "four times less" is often considered incorrect and can lead to confusion in written English.
It is typically used when comparing quantities, but it can be misleading because it implies a mathematical operation that is not clearly defined. Example: "If the original price was $100, then four times less would suggest a price of $25, which is not accurate."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the United States, women kill themselves about four times less often than men.

The New York Times - Magazine

But company financial reports show that American providers are four times less profitable than their European counterparts.

The New York Times

In fact, they are four times less likely to have finished high school than the average person born in America.

The Economist

"We were getting three or four times less revenue for each point of ratings than other channels," says Mr Remchukov.

The Economist

But that's not good enough for younger folk - 16-24s are four times less likely to do that.

The Guardian

Argentines pay four times less for electricity than their neighbours in Brazil, while the government subsidised the costs of energy firms by more than $10 billion in 2011.

The Economist

It is growing at about 6% a year, while inflation is down to single figures, about four times less than the rate in 2000.

The Economist

"If you look at the data, compared with Europe or Canada, Americans are eating two to four times less yogurt," he told me.

The New Yorker

Those prices are two to four times less than the industry standard.

TechCrunch

Those prices are two to four times less than the industry standard.

TechCrunch

Gabriel et al. reported the vaginal wall being four times less stiff than abdominal aponeurosis.

Gynecological Surgery

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In less formal contexts, "four times less" is generally understood, but be mindful of your audience and the potential for misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid assuming "four times less" means subtracting four times the original value. It usually means reducing something to one-fourth of its original value. For example, if you misinterpreted it to mean subtracting, starting from 100 you will end up with -300, while the correct answer should be 25.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "four times less" typically functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which a quantity or value is reduced. Ludwig examples show it comparing values across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "four times less" is a common way to express a significant reduction in quantity. Ludwig reveals the debate around its grammatical correctness, with alternatives like "one-quarter of" or "75% less than" suggested for clarity. Despite this debate, its widespread use across science, news, and media signifies its acceptance in various contexts. When choosing between "four times less" and its alternatives, consider your audience and prioritize clarity to avoid potential misinterpretations. The main takeaway is that while it can be understood, it introduces a degree of ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one-quarter the amount

Expresses a direct fractional relationship, indicating a reduction to a quarter of the original quantity.

a quarter of the original

States that something is now just a quarter of what it initially was.

a fourth of what it was

Similar to 'one-quarter', but uses the ordinal 'fourth'.

reduced by seventy-five percent

Focuses on the percentage reduction, emphasizing the extent of the decrease.

three-quarters less

Highlights that three-quarters have been removed.

seventy-five percent smaller

Highlights the size difference, quantifying the reduction as a percentage.

decreased to twenty-five percent

Indicates the final percentage remaining after the decrease.

cut by seventy-five percent

Focuses on the action of cutting or reducing, quantifying it by percentage.

only twenty-five percent remains

Emphasizes that only a small portion is left after the reduction.

twenty-five percent as much

Specifies the final amount relative to the original.

FAQs

Is "four times less" grammatically correct?

The phrase "four times less" is often debated. While commonly used, some argue it's imprecise and suggest alternatives like "one-quarter of" or "75% less than" for clarity.

What does "four times less" actually mean?

In most contexts, "four times less" means that a quantity has been reduced to one-fourth of its original value. For example, if something originally cost $100, "four times less" would imply a new cost of $25.

Are there clearer alternatives to "four times less"?

Yes, phrases like "one-quarter of", "75% less than", or "reduced by 75%" can often provide more precise communication.

When is it appropriate to use "four times less"?

While not always considered grammatically perfect, "four times less" is generally acceptable in informal contexts where the meaning is clear from the surrounding information. In formal or technical writing, using more precise alternatives is recommended.