hitherto less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hitherto less" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been lesser or not as significant up to the present time. Example: "The research findings were hitherto less understood, but recent studies have shed light on the topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, meanwhile - its contribution to the festival hitherto less than assured - played with ferocious commitment.

The Guardian - Music

This stretches both north and south to the hitherto less prolific basins of Espirito Santo and Santos.

The Economist

Speculation has also intensified this week about the hitherto less competitive Democratic field after a strong performance by the liberal senator Elizabeth Warren during a budget row in Congress rekindled hopes that she might challenge the frontrunner, Hillary Clinton.

The Guardian

Others say the rent controls have also caused rent rises in hitherto less desirable districts as landlords have taken the advantage of being allowed to justify a 10% increase where they might previously have increased it by less.

The Guardian

More pre-clinical research papers are expected to be published in future issues, and we strongly believe this phenomenon will positively influence originality and quality of the clinical research papers too, meanwhile conveying new stimuli to the orthopedic community hitherto less familiar with this kind of reading.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Apart from the obvious influence of China, India, and Indonesia, some of the smaller and hitherto less influential nations may hold the key to just how dynamic political change in the region becomes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But hitherto very less has been reported on the friction stir welded joints with dissimilar polymer/plastic (DP) materials (with metal powder reinforcement).

Composites Part B: Engineering

But hitherto much less has been reported for production of low-cost Gr-reinforced polymer matrix-based feedstock filament for fused deposition modeling (FDM) applications.

Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering

The possible significance of reactions between bentonite and high-salinity, magnesium-rich porewater for the sealing properties of bentonite has hitherto received less attention than reactions such as smectite illitization, iron-bentonite interactions and cement-bentonite interactions.

Applied Geochemistry

Moreover, culture allows drug resistance testing which was hitherto given less attention in this form of extrapulmonary TB.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Trichoderma reesei is known as a good producer of industrial proteins but has hitherto been less successful in the production of therapeutic proteins.

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hitherto less", ensure the context clearly establishes a comparison to a previous state. For instance, "The topic was hitherto less understood, but recent research has clarified its intricacies."

Common error

Avoid using "hitherto less" in casual conversation or informal writing. It's better suited for academic papers, formal reports, or professional articles where a sense of historical perspective is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hitherto less" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a state or condition that existed up to a certain point in time. It typically modifies a verb or adjective, showing a change or contrast in significance, intensity, or quantity. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hitherto less" is a grammatically correct adverbial modifier used to indicate that something was smaller, weaker, or less significant up to the present time. It is primarily used in formal and scientific contexts, such as academic papers, news articles, and scientific publications, as reported by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider the audience and context when using "hitherto less", as it may be too formal for casual conversation or informal writing. Consider alternatives like "previously smaller" or "formerly diminished" for broader accessibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously smaller

Replaces "hitherto" with "previously" maintaining the sense of something being smaller before the present.

until now smaller

Substitutes "hitherto" with "until now", providing a more direct temporal reference.

formerly diminished

Uses "formerly" instead of "hitherto" and "diminished" instead of "less", indicating a past reduction.

earlier diminished

Synonymous replacement of “previously diminished” for a slightly less formal tone.

heretofore reduced

Employs "heretofore" as a synonym for "hitherto" and uses "reduced" in place of "less".

in the past smaller

Replaces "hitherto" with "in the past", making the phrase more explicit about the time frame.

priorly decreased

Uses "priorly" instead of "hitherto" and "decreased" instead of "less", suggesting a past reduction in quantity or intensity.

previously not as significant

Replaces "less" with "not as significant", providing a more descriptive alternative.

up until now not as important

Replaces “hitherto” with “up until now” and “less” with “not as important”.

before now, smaller

Employs “before now” instead of “hitherto” with a slightly more informal tone, keeps “smaller”.

FAQs

How can I use "hitherto less" in a sentence?

Use "hitherto less" to indicate that something was smaller, weaker, or less significant in the past compared to the present. For example, "The region's economic potential was hitherto less explored, but recent investments have changed that."

What are some alternatives to "hitherto less"?

You can use alternatives like "previously smaller", "formerly diminished", or "until now smaller" depending on the context.

Is "hitherto less" appropriate for informal writing?

No, "hitherto less" is generally too formal for informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "previously smaller" or "before now smaller" are more suitable.

What's the difference between "hitherto less" and "formerly less"?

"Hitherto less" and "formerly less" are quite similar, both indicating something was smaller or less significant in the past. "Hitherto" often implies 'up to this point', while "formerly" simply means 'in the past'. Therefore, "hitherto less"" is the more formal of the two.