getting lesser

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "getting lesser" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "getting less." Example: "As the project progressed, the budget was getting less than we initially planned."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But in a country where slogans like "chicks dig the long ball" underscore the popularity of power, Suzuki's talent for getting lesser hits — like his major-league-leading 449 infield hits since 2001 — can be underappreciated.

The New York Times - Sports

The same day, getting lesser headlines, Canadian doctor Anthony Galea also skated from jail for bringing illegal drugs into the U.S. to treat athletes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

When laid off from paper route, got lesser paper route.

The New Yorker

All the same, there are dedicated arsonists who get lesser conflagrations going.

Independent

Doormen, messengers, cleaning ladies and other blue-collar staff got lesser awards.

The Guardian

The end of the war in Iraq and the passage of health-care reform get lesser billing.

The New Yorker

The men reached deals with the prosecution and got lesser sentences while she received the death sentence.

The Guardian

It would get lesser savings by requiring electronic transactions for administrative tasks and opening an approval process for generic biological medicines.

The New York Times

She is further damaged because the law encourages members of a drug conspiracy to rat on each other to get lesser sentences; knowing nothing, she has no information to trade.

The New York Times - Arts

But in order to get there, over the past few decades, it seems to me that Pynchon has had to get lesser (though still characteristic) works out of his system – as if Joyce had handed in a few Flann O'Brien-style farces between his monuments.

Independent

According to Mr. Datta's lawyers, who declined to make him or his family available for interviews, their client is a legitimate businessman who was entrapped by other drug-connected defendants to get lesser sentences for their own money-laundering schemes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey a reduction or decrease, use "getting less" instead of "getting lesser". For example, "The budget is getting less each year" is grammatically sound and conveys the intended meaning effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser" when describing a quantity that is decreasing. "Lesser" is an adjective to mean of smaller size or degree. Use "less" to describe a decreasing quantity of something. For example, instead of saying "I am getting lesser money", say "I am getting less money".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "getting lesser" functions incorrectly as it attempts to use "lesser", an adjective, in a context where an adverbial modifier or a comparative form is required. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is non-standard.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "getting lesser" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to express a reduction, but the use of "lesser" as opposed to "less" is not standard English. Correct alternatives include "getting less", "decreasing", or "diminishing". Although examples can be found in news and scientific contexts, adhering to proper grammar is crucial for clear communication, especially in formal settings. It's recommended to use the grammatically correct alternative, "getting less", to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

getting less

Replaces the grammatically incorrect "lesser" with the correct comparative form "less."

becoming smaller

Focuses on size reduction, implying a decrease in quantity or importance.

decreasing

A more formal and direct synonym for "getting lesser", implying a gradual reduction.

diminishing

Similar to "decreasing" but suggests a gradual fading or weakening.

reducing

Emphasizes the act of making something smaller or less.

declining

Suggests a downward trend or a decrease in quality or quantity.

dwindling

Implies a gradual and continuous reduction, often to a very small amount.

lessening

A verb form indicating the process of becoming less.

shrinking

Focuses on physical size reduction, but can also be used metaphorically.

becoming reduced

Similar to "reducing" but emphasizes the state of being reduced.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "getting lesser"?

No, the correct phrase is "getting less". "Lesser" is an adjective, whereas "less" is used to indicate a smaller amount. Therefore, saying "getting less" is grammatically correct when referring to a decreasing quantity.

What's the difference between "getting lesser" and "getting less"?

"Getting lesser" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "getting less", which is used to describe a decreasing quantity or amount. "Lesser" is an adjective that means smaller or of less importance.

How can I rephrase "getting lesser" to sound more natural?

To sound more natural, replace "getting lesser" with phrases like "getting less", "decreasing", or "becoming smaller", depending on the context.

When should I use "lesser"?

Use "lesser" as an adjective to describe something that is smaller, weaker, or of less importance than something else. For example, "a lesser amount", "a lesser role", or "a lesser evil".