is less useful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is less useful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the usefulness of two or more items, indicating that one is not as beneficial as the other. Example: "While the new software has some features, it is less useful than the previous version for our specific needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As no iodine contrast agents should be used, CT is less useful than US-guided FNAC.

Cancer Imaging

An allegory that doesn't wrestle with this fact is less useful for all of us.

Stanford University

"I think temporary hiring is less useful a signal than it used to be," says John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo.

Huffington Post

This is less useful for inkjet printers that use a separate black cartridge.

WikiHow

"As a result, the benchmark is less useful and has even (mis)led us to spend time making some irrelevant optimizations in Chrome," they note.

TechCrunch

Finally, the CTC chip is less useful for sarcomas which cannot be captured using EpCAM methods.

Cancer Nanotechnology

But using last year’s reported numbers is less useful since the market tends to value stocks based more on future prospects than on past results.

Forbes

Therefore, this approach is less useful in acute illnesses, and has not been used widely in the critically ill.

Critical Care

So while the GSS can tell us something important about young people in general, it is less useful for explaining the situation on campus.

The Washington Post

Since using TCP, packet losses are recovered, this type of metrics is less useful for YouTube.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

There, "The Three Rules" is less useful.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the usefulness of multiple options, follow "is less useful" with "than" to clearly establish the basis for comparison. For example, "This tool is less useful than the alternative."

Common error

Avoid assuming "is less useful" implies complete uselessness. It simply indicates that an option isn't as effective or appropriate as another in a specific context. For example, while a hammer is less useful than a screwdriver for tightening screws, it remains essential for driving nails.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is less useful" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It serves to qualify a noun or concept, indicating that it possesses a reduced level of utility or effectiveness compared to something else. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is less useful" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is not as effective or helpful as another option. As Ludwig AI highlights, this comparative phrase appears frequently across diverse fields, including science, news media, and academia. It is important to provide a clear point of comparison when using this phrase. While it carries a neutral tone overall, "is less useful" does not necessarily imply complete uselessness. It's essential to consider the specific context to fully grasp the intended meaning. Remember to use it to compare the utility of options, guiding readers to the more effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not as helpful

Emphasizes a reduced level of assistance or support.

is not as effective

Focuses on a diminished capacity to produce a desired result.

is less valuable

Highlights a reduced worth or importance.

is not as beneficial

Stresses a decreased positive impact or advantage.

is less advantageous

Suggests a reduced favorable position or opportunity.

is less suitable

Indicates a reduced appropriateness for a particular purpose.

is not as practical

Focuses on a diminished level of real-world applicability.

is of limited use

Emphasizes restrictions or constraints on its usability.

has limited application

Highlights specific constraints regarding areas where this term can be used.

is of lesser importance

Focuses on the relative significance or consequence.

FAQs

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

You can use "is less useful" to compare the utility of two things, indicating that one is not as effective or helpful as the other. For example, "Using a map "is less useful" than a GPS in areas with no marked roads".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "is less useful"?

Alternatives include "is not as helpful", "is not as effective", or "is less valuable", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is unuseful" instead of "is less useful"?

While "unuseful" is technically a word, it's not commonly used. "Is less useful" is the more standard and widely accepted way to express that something has limited utility.

What is the difference between "is less useful" and "is useless"?

"Is less useful" implies that something has some utility but is not as effective or helpful as another option or in a particular situation. "Is useless", on the other hand, means that something has no utility or value at all.