is less dissimilar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is less dissimilar" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two things that are not entirely different from each other, suggesting a degree of similarity. Example: "The two proposals are less dissimilar than we initially thought, sharing several key elements."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thus a single gene signature tree is less dissimilar from the consensus tree than a conventional one.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The lack of differences between methods for control samples may be due to the small number of controls analysed, or because methods were less dissimilar if there were fewer WMN in the ROI.

Acta neuropathologica communications

As observed the Ward agglomerative method out performs all other methods producing clusters that are less dissimilar and therefore more highly correlated than those generated from other methods relative to the number of clusters produced.

BMC Medical Genomics

A study by Turnbaugh and colleagues shows that monozygotic twins are less dissimilar in terms of gut microbiota composition within twin pairs than pairs of dizygotic twins, and that the gut microbiota of twins are more similar to each other than to their mothers' (Turnbaugh et al., 2009a).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

However, the transferability of the model to dissimilar cities is less clear, as it is only the soaring demand for property and high land values that are considered to have made the scheme feasible in London [29].

Urban Rail Transit

When ΔH or ΔD negative, the newcomer sexual partner is less heterozygous or less genetically dissimilar than the first one.

Plosone

As to be expected, we see that the hybrid offspring of more dissimilar parents is less fit and less similar to one of its two parents.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In our four case studies, yields were reported both in absolute units (mass of recombinant protein per unit of biomass, which allows total productivity to be calculated by factoring in the production scale) and in relative units (%TSP) which is less useful particularly when comparing dissimilar tissues such as leaves and seeds with vastly different water contents.

BioMed Research International

Klimt's modernism is not only dissimilar to that of Picasso and Matisse but, in some ways, because it is less pure, it is more available to us now.

The Guardian

Yet, the fact that they were no less dissimilar to themselves (were not symmetrical) than to their partners or to any other conspecific was unexpected, as symmetry is common in the animal kingdom.

Biology Open

We found that the patterns of each fish and sides of the body were no less dissimilar, compared intraspecificly to other fish, and that each side pattern was unique and distinguishable.

Biology Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger, more direct alternatives like "is similar" or "is alike" if the context doesn't require the subtle nuance of "is less dissimilar".

Common error

Avoid using "is less dissimilar" in contexts where a simpler affirmative statement, such as "is similar", would be clearer and more direct. Overuse of double negatives can make your writing sound convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is less dissimilar" functions as a comparative expression, indicating that two or more entities share similarities, although they might appear different initially. As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase aims to mitigate perceived differences by highlighting common ground.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is less dissimilar" serves as a nuanced comparative tool, suggesting underlying similarities between items that might initially appear distinct. While grammatically correct and widely recognized, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is best reserved for situations where highlighting these shared aspects is crucial. While simpler alternatives like "is similar" exist, "is less dissimilar" offers a refined way to bridge perceived divides, particularly in scientific, news, or business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is more alike

Indicates a greater degree of similarity compared to "is less dissimilar".

is somewhat similar

Suggests a partial resemblance, weaker than saying they are completely alike.

is not entirely different

Emphasizes the presence of some differences while acknowledging similarities.

shares some resemblances

Focuses on the shared characteristics rather than the differences.

is comparable to

Highlights the ability to draw comparisons, implying some common aspects.

has points of convergence

Suggests specific areas where the items align or overlap.

is not as divergent as

Emphasizes that the items are closer together than they might initially seem.

is approaching similarity

Indicates a trend toward becoming more alike over time or in certain conditions.

is trending toward sameness

Highlights an ongoing process of unification or homogenization.

is only subtly distinct

Suggests that the differences are minor and easily overlooked.

FAQs

How can I use "is less dissimilar" in a sentence?

You can use "is less dissimilar" to highlight shared characteristics between two subjects. For example, "The two proposals "are less dissimilar" than we initially thought, sharing several key elements".

What are some alternatives to "is less dissimilar"?

Alternatives include "is more alike", "is somewhat similar", or "is not entirely different", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "is less dissimilar" instead of "is similar"?

"Is less dissimilar" is appropriate when you want to acknowledge some differences while still emphasizing underlying similarities. It's useful for nuanced comparisons where a simple "is similar" might be too broad.

Is "is less dissimilar" a double negative?

While "is less dissimilar" does contain a negative element ("less" and "dissimilar"), it functions to convey a nuanced degree of similarity rather than a direct negation. It's generally considered acceptable but should be used judiciously to avoid convoluted phrasing.