less accurate

USAGE SUMMARY

"less accurate" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not precise or exact. For example: "The measurements taken were less accurate than expected due to the equipment malfunction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's more or less accurate.

The New York Times - Arts

This is more or less accurate.

The Guardian - Film

His driving has been far less accurate.

The Guardian - Sport

Indeed it would be less fair and less accurate.

The New York Times

The hurricane forecasts have proven to be less accurate.

The Guardian - Opinion

"That actually sounds more or less accurate," I said.

The New York Times

It was still quite fast, but was slightly less accurate.

The Guardian - Tech

As time passes the figures become less and less accurate.

The Economist

That would make it less accurate than the Cologuard test.

The New York Times

And the older your device, the less accurate the scans.

The New York Times - Tech

But as relative prices change, those calculations become less accurate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two methods or results, use "less accurate" to clearly indicate which one provides a lower degree of precision or correctness. For example: "Method A is "less accurate" than Method B for predicting long-term results."

Common error

Avoid using "less accurate" to describe something that is completely wrong or false. "Less accurate" implies a degree of correctness, whereas something completely incorrect requires stronger terms like "false", "wrong", or "inaccurate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less accurate" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something that has a lower degree of accuracy when compared to something else. As shown by Ludwig, it is often used to compare methods, predictions, or measurements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less accurate" is a grammatically correct and commonly used comparative adjective phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is primarily employed to indicate a reduced degree of correctness or precision in comparison to something else. Its usage spans various contexts, including science, news, and formal writing, reflecting its versatility. To enhance clarity, avoid using it in absolute terms and consider alternatives like "more inaccurate" or "not as precise" depending on the intended meaning. Ludwig's examples show this is a reliable way to compare different method results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more inaccurate

Indicates a higher degree of inaccuracy compared to the original phrase. It implies a stronger deviation from the true or correct value.

not as precise

Focuses on the lack of precision rather than accuracy, implying a lack of detail or exactness.

somewhat incorrect

Highlights the presence of errors or mistakes, suggesting a departure from what is right or factual.

marginally flawed

Emphasizes that the inaccuracy is slight or insignificant, implying that the flaw is minimal.

slightly off

Suggests a minor deviation from the expected or desired outcome, indicating a small error or miscalculation.

not entirely correct

Implies that while the statement may have some elements of truth, it is not completely accurate or truthful.

imperfectly precise

Highlights the lack of perfect precision, suggesting that there is some degree of imprecision or error.

not quite exact

Indicates that the value or measurement is close to the true value but not perfectly accurate.

relatively imprecise

Implies that the level of imprecision is relative to a specific standard or context.

a bit inexact

Suggests a small degree of inexactness, indicating that the value is not perfectly accurate or precise.

FAQs

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

You can use "less accurate" to compare the precision of two different methods, measurements, or estimates. For instance, "The older model is "less accurate" than the new one when predicting weather patterns."

What are some alternatives to saying "less accurate"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "more inaccurate", "not as precise", or "somewhat incorrect" instead of "less accurate".

Is it better to say "less accurate" or "inaccurate"?

"Less accurate" implies a difference in precision or degree of correctness, while "inaccurate" suggests a complete lack of accuracy. Use "less accurate" when something is partially correct, and "inaccurate" when it's entirely wrong.

What's the difference between "less accurate" and "less precise"?

"Less accurate" refers to the degree to which something is free from error, while "less precise" refers to the level of detail or exactness. A measurement can be accurate but not precise, or vice versa. For instance, an estimate might be close to the actual value (accurate) but given to only one decimal place (imprecise).