hardly less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'hardly less than' is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically means 'nearly as much as' and can be used to compare two amounts, either of which may be quantitative or qualitative. For example, "He was hardly less than ecstatic when I gave him the news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A scary response, but hardly less than the action demanded.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ptolemy's fame as a geographer is hardly less than his fame as an astronomer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

("My mind does not always move straight ahead but backwards too," he says. "I distrust my present thoughts hardly less than my past ones and my second or third thoughts hardly less than my first").

The New Yorker

Whatever may be the place directly occupied by Freud's ideas in the social sciences today, his influence upon 20th-century thought and culture generally, not excluding the social sciences, was hardly less than Marx's.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Washington's losses during the war had been heavy, caused by neglect of his lands, stoppage of exportation, and depreciation of paper money, which cost him hardly less than $30,000.

Encyclopedia Britannica

President Bush, who talks of his relationship with Jesus as if they'd been Deke fraternity brothers in college and casts himself as God's personal instrument in the war against Evil, may warm the hearts of his Bible-belt supporters, but he offends in Seattle, where Christian, hardly less than Islamic, fundamentalists tend to be viewed as people who've taken a good thing a great deal too far.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And his team-mates are hardly less colourful than their leader.

The Guardian - Books

As it is, he is hardly less dusky than Amonasro, who is a real Ethiopian.

The Guardian

Forty years on, the malfeasance exposed by the Watergate scandal is hardly less shocking than it was at the time.

Independent

A new gas pipeline from Iran is planned, for instance.Armenia is hardly less autocratic than Azerbaijan.

The Economist

They are, perhaps, hardly less scary than the grownups and bigger kids who intimidate him all the time.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly less than" to draw a comparison emphasizing that something is close in degree or amount to something else, often to highlight a surprising similarity or to downplay a difference. For example: "The sequel was hardly less exciting than the original".

Common error

Avoid using "hardly less than" when you intend to express that something is significantly different or inferior. The phrase implies near equivalence, so using it incorrectly can confuse your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly less than" functions as a comparative quantifier, suggesting that one thing is nearly equal to another in some quality or quantity. Ludwig examples show it used to compare abstract concepts like influence, achievement, or fear.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly less than" serves to draw a comparison, indicating near equivalence between two elements. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and versatile enough for use across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While alternatives like ""scarcely less than"" exist, "hardly less than" offers a unique balance of emphasis and subtlety, making it a valuable tool for precise and nuanced communication. However, it's important to avoid using it when you intend to express a significant difference or inferiority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely less than

Replaces "hardly" with "scarcely", maintaining a similar sense of near equivalence.

barely less than

Substitutes "hardly" with "barely", emphasizing the slight difference between the two compared items.

virtually the same as

Indicates that the items are so close in comparison that they are almost identical.

almost equal to

Directly states that the compared items have nearly the same value or degree.

not far from

Expresses proximity in value or degree, but less emphatic than "almost equal".

approaching the level of

Suggests a movement towards equivalence, indicating the first item is getting closer to the second.

closely resembles

Highlights the similarity in appearance or characteristics between two items.

substantially similar to

Implies that the items share many important characteristics, though not necessarily identical.

not significantly different from

Focuses on the lack of notable difference, indicating the items are largely alike.

on par with

Suggests that both items are equal in status or quality.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly less than" to show that something is almost equal to something else in a particular quality or amount. For example, "His contribution was "hardly less than" hers in completing the project".

What does "hardly less than" mean?

The phrase "hardly less than" means 'almost as much as' or 'nearly equal to'. It's used to compare two things and suggest they are very close in value or quality.

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

Alternatives include "scarcely less than", "barely less than", or "almost equal to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "hardly less than"?

Yes, "hardly less than" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something is nearly as much or as good as something else. Its usage is confirmed by Ludwig AI.