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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

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least busier

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "least busier" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "least busy." Example: "Out of all the days this week, Tuesday is the least busy for me."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With a few shops, trees and the entrances to the building and subway drawing people down into it, it's at least busier and less glum than most sunken plazas, and inviting in ways that the barren patch of sidewalk across the street isn't.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Senator Grassley insists that the District of Columbia court "is the least busy circuit in the country".

News & Media

The New York Times

I'm the busiest and least busy restaurateur in the world.

I am happy that the analysts are at least busy doing something, but I only hope they did it right.

News & Media

The New York Times

The last two weeks in December (excluding New Year's Eve) and first two weeks in January are usually the least busy.

The second least busy ladder company, which is on Staten Island, had more than three times the number of runs, 594, with 15 serious fires, according to department data.

News & Media

The New York Times

Denver, which sprawls over 135.4 square kilometres (52.3 square miles), was the biggest of the 15 but also the least busy, with 52.5m passengers in 2013.

News & Media

The Economist

Hope Boykin's "Excerpts... of Me," set to Schubert's "Ave Maria" and music by Bill Withers, was busy dance choreographed by the least busy of dancers.

The Kenwood radio is notable for its scanning feature, which can be set to either find the busiest, or least busy, channel or a clear channel.

Analysts caution, however, that the January data covers a short period of time during the least busy shopping month of the year.

News & Media

The New York Times

It was no coincidence that, during their set, the least busy area of this cavernous space was right in front of the stage.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to describe something with minimal activity, use the phrase "least busy" instead of the grammatically incorrect "least busier".

Common error

The term "least busier" is incorrect because it combines a superlative ("least") with a comparative ("busier"). Always use the base adjective form ("busy") after "least" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least busier" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms it's not standard English. The correct usage is "least busy", functioning as a superlative adjective phrase modifying a noun to indicate the lowest level of activity or occupancy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "least busier" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates the proper phrase is "least busy". Use "least busy" to accurately describe something with the lowest level of activity. For similar meanings, consider using alternatives like "least occupied" or "least active". Always avoid double comparatives, such as combining "least" (superlative) with "busier" (comparative).

FAQs

How do I correctly use "least busy" in a sentence?

Use "least busy" to indicate the time or place with the lowest level of activity. For example, "This is the "least busy" time of day at the store".

What's the difference between "least busy" and "less busy"?

"Less busy" compares two things, while "least busy" identifies the one with the absolute lowest level of activity. For example, "Today is less busy than yesterday, but tomorrow is the "least busy" day of the week".

Is "least busier" grammatically correct?

No, "least busier" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "least busy". The word "least" already implies a superlative degree, so adding the comparative "-er" ending to "busy" is redundant and creates a grammatical error.

What are some synonyms for "least busy"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "least active", "least occupied", or "quietest" instead of "least busy".

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Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: