less amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less amount of" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "less" without "amount" or "a smaller amount of." Example: "There is less water in the glass than before."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The proposed circuit also requires less amount of power.

Nano Communication Networks

The more veteran guys retire, the less amount of people come to the games.

The New York Times - Sports

So, if Hillary is there, you're going to have a far less amount of fuel.

The New York Times

Yet, she noted, "We're paying that same tuition with less amount of learning".

The New York Times

High syngas selectivity was attained by using a less amount of diluent in the catalyst bed.

Applied Catalysis A: General

Catalytic pyrolysis of lignin increased the production of phenolics, especially, with less amount of carbonyl group.

Catalysis Today

Therefore, the potential for water integration may be diminished, which means a less amount of water recovery.

Chemical Engineering Science

While the ground MAO coating exhibited relatively less amount of porosity, HA coating had through thickness cracks.

Surface and Coatings Technology

It was perceived that the forged alloy contains less amount of porosities and second phase particles in its microstructure.

International Journal of Fatigue

The results also showed that MVs contained much less amount of MIR168a but caused stronger effect on LDLRAP1 level than 'free' MIR168a did (Figure 4B-4D).

Nature

Results showed that less amount of TCAA, more amounts of DCAA and MCAA were formed with increasing concentration of copper (II).

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "less" directly before uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water", "less effort") for conciseness and grammatical correctness. You can also use the phrase "smaller amount of".

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer cars"). Correct: Fewer people attended. Incorrect: Less people attended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less amount of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase. It aims to quantify something as being of a smaller quantity or degree. However, as noted by Ludwig, it is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "less" followed directly by the noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "less amount of" is frequently used across diverse contexts, ranging from scientific articles to news reports, Ludwig flags it as grammatically incorrect. The core issue lies in the redundant use of "amount of" when "less" can directly modify the noun. For improved precision and grammatical accuracy, especially in formal writing, it is best to use "less" directly before uncountable nouns (e.g., "less time", "less effort") or to use the phrase "smaller amount of". For countable nouns, "fewer" is the correct choice. By following these guidelines, you can ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller amount of

Replaces "less" with "smaller", emphasizing the reduced quantity. It's grammatically correct and widely accepted.

lesser quantity of

Uses "lesser" to express a reduced quantity. It is less commonly used than "smaller" or just "less".

less quantity of

Replaces "amount" with "quantity", but "less" is already suitable and this sounds awkward.

fewer amount of

Incorrect use of "amount" with countable nouns. It is less acceptable than "less amount of".

lower quantity of

Replaces "less" with "lower", changing the nuance to indicate diminished quantity. Grammatically sound, but semantically different.

reduced quantity of

Implies that a reduction has occurred; emphasizes process more than current state.

diminished quantity of

Similar to "reduced quantity", indicating a decrease from a previous state. Emphasizes process.

smaller proportion of

Focuses on the relative size compared to a whole, rather than absolute quantity.

less volume of

Specifically refers to liquid or three-dimensional space; "amount" is more general.

smaller degree of

Refers to intensity or extent rather than amount. Suitable for abstract nouns.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "less" to describe quantity?

Use "less" before uncountable nouns (e.g., "There is less time available"). For countable nouns, use "fewer" (e.g., "There are fewer options now").

What are some alternatives to the incorrect phrase "less amount of"?

You can use phrases like "smaller amount of", "less" followed directly by the noun, or if the noun is countable, use "fewer".

Is it always wrong to say "less amount of"?

While widely used, especially in informal contexts, it's grammatically incorrect. Strive for more precise language, such as "smaller amount of" or simply "less".

What's the difference between "less" and "fewer"?

"Less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "less information"), while "fewer" is used with countable nouns (e.g., "fewer details"). For example: "There is less traffic today" versus "There are fewer cars on the road".