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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
in fewer steps
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "in fewer steps" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a process or method that can be completed with less effort or fewer actions than another approach. Example: "By using this new software, you can complete the task in fewer steps than before."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(4)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
8 human-written examples
If you ever come across an "Easter Egg," which is a D.L.L. combined with a Text Message Tony, quickly take a photo of his back as he vaults up a full flight of stairs in fewer steps than it takes LeBron James to cover the full length of the court (thirteen), all while typing on his phone.
News & Media
Larger fragments on the other hand have fewer local minima allowing sampling of relevant conformations in fewer steps.
Science
Otherwise, particles traveling a given distance in a larger number of shorter steps would be weighted more often than a particle traveling the distance in fewer steps.
This allows them to select a representative and maximally diverse subset of the small molecule universe (SMU), which captures similar diversity to Reymond's approach in fewer steps.
Science
We make a simple modification to the greedy algorithm for polymatroids of Edmonds [Proc. Calgary Internat. Conf. on Combinatorial Structures, 1970, pp. 69 87] so that it terminates in fewer steps.
Note that in the latter case the individuals that are capable of performing a cycle, actually do this in fewer steps for higher σ.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
51 human-written examples
In which the reference current is calculated by the predicted current values in few steps ahead.
This precaution ensures the convergence of the process, usually in few steps.
Science
With a view to the assumptions (j1)–(j3) and the definition of in (3.8), one verifies the lemma in few steps.
Taking full advantage from the hybrid technology needs a significant effort that can be summarized in few steps.
In this case the step size ∈ must be chosen in order to guarantee the convergence in few steps which is not a simple task.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Employ "in fewer steps" when you want to emphasize a reduction in complexity or effort. It's particularly useful in instructions, manuals, or process descriptions.
Common error
Remember that "fewer" is used with countable nouns (steps), while "less" is used with uncountable nouns (effort, time). Avoid saying "in less steps"; the correct phrase is "in fewer steps".
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "in fewer steps" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It specifies that an action is carried out with a reduced number of steps compared to another method.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
20%
Wiki
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Encyclopedias
2%
Reference
3%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "in fewer steps" is a grammatically sound and usable way to convey efficiency and simplicity. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for use in written English. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, highlighting that a process requires fewer actions than an alternative. While alternatives like "more efficiently" or "with less effort" exist, "in fewer steps" specifically emphasizes the reduction in the number of actions needed. Remember to use "fewer" with countable nouns like "steps", and avoid the common mistake of using "less". This phrase is helpful when comparing methods or describing improvements in efficiency.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
with fewer actions
Focuses specifically on reducing the number of actions required.
in a streamlined manner
Emphasizes efficiency and simplicity in the process.
more efficiently
Highlights the increased efficiency of a process.
with less effort
Focuses on the reduction of effort needed.
in a quicker fashion
Highlights speed and rapidity in achieving a result.
by simplifying the process
Emphasizes the act of making the process less complex.
in a more direct way
Highlights a more straightforward and less circuitous method.
with optimized procedures
Focuses on improving procedures to reduce steps.
by reducing complexity
Emphasizes decreasing the intricacy of a process.
in an abbreviated form
Highlights the shortened or condensed nature of the process.
FAQs
How can I use "in fewer steps" in a sentence?
You can use "in fewer steps" to describe a process that is more efficient than another, for example: "The new software completes the task "in fewer steps" than the old one".
What are some alternatives to using "in fewer steps"?
Some alternatives include "more efficiently", "with less effort", or "in a streamlined manner", depending on the specific context.
Is it grammatically correct to say "in less steps" instead of "in fewer steps"?
No, it is not grammatically correct. Use "fewer" with countable nouns like "steps". The correct phrase is ""in fewer steps"".
What's the difference between using "in fewer steps" and "more efficiently"?
"In fewer steps" specifically refers to reducing the number of actions needed, while "more efficiently" is a broader term that can encompass various improvements, such as time, resources, or energy.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested