got less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "got less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities or amounts, typically in informal contexts. Example: "I got less than I expected on my test, which was disappointing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now we got less than nothin'".

The New Yorker

I've got less than you".

The New Yorker

"David, you've got less than a year to go.

The New Yorker

This time Mr Gadea has got less than $1m.

The Economist

I've got less than a month to decide.

The New York Times

Losers didn't just get nothing, they got less than nothing.

The Guardian - Sport

We got less than 1,000 people," she said.

The New York Times

Charlie Frye got less than a half for Cleveland.

The New York Times - Sports

He called for solidarity, but perhaps got less than he hoped for (see Banyan).

The Economist

Mr Buhari got less than a quarter of the votes in the 20 southernmost ones.

The Economist

For his pains, he got less than 6% of the vote.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "got less than" in contexts where the act of receiving or obtaining is relevant. For situations requiring a formal tone, consider using alternatives like "received fewer than" or "obtained less than".

Common error

Remember that "less" is generally used for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"), while "fewer" is used for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer apples"). Avoid saying "less apples"; instead, use "fewer apples".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got less than" functions primarily as a comparative determiner phrase. It is used to quantify and compare amounts, indicating that the subject received, obtained, or possessed a smaller quantity than a reference point. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "got less than" is a common and grammatically correct comparative expression used to indicate a smaller quantity or amount received, obtained, or possessed compared to something else. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its acceptability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to express deficiency, comparison, or factual statements about reduced quantities. While versatile, consider more formal alternatives like "received fewer than" or "obtained less than" in academic or scientific writing. Be mindful of using "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable quantities to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had less than

Highlights possession and is more direct.

received fewer than

Focuses on the act of receiving, suitable for formal contexts.

obtained less than

Emphasizes the act of acquiring something, often used in formal or technical contexts.

acquired fewer than

Similar to 'obtained', implies gaining something, but focuses on countable items.

possessed less than

A more formal way to indicate having a smaller amount.

amounted to less than

Similar to 'totaled less than', but often used in more formal contexts.

totaled less than

Used when referring to a sum or aggregate amount.

didn't reach

Directly states the failure to attain a certain level or amount.

fell short of

Similar to 'came up short', emphasizing a failure to achieve a desired quantity.

came up short of

Idiomatic expression indicating failure to reach a specific amount or goal.

FAQs

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

You can use "got less than" to compare quantities. For example, "I got less than I expected on the exam" or "The company got less funding than it requested".

What are some alternatives to "got less than"?

Alternatives include "received fewer than", "obtained less than", or "had less than", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "got lesser than" instead of "got less than"?

No, "got lesser than" is not standard English. The correct comparative form of "less" is simply "less than". Using "lesser" in this context is grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "fewer than" instead of "less than"?

Use "fewer than" when referring to countable items (e.g., "fewer than five students"). Use "less than" when referring to uncountable quantities (e.g., "less than a gallon of water"). Thus, you would say "got fewer than" five apples but "got less than" a pound of applesauce.