less and less

USAGE SUMMARY

"less and less" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to introduce a metric showing a decrease in something over time, or to compare two or more items in terms of decreasing quantities. For example: "The population of the city is decreasing year over year, with less and less people living in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A Well, less and less and less.

The New York Times

That happens less and less.

The New Yorker

There's less and less understanding.

The New Yorker

It's getting less and less".

The New Yorker

"I listen less and less," Mushnick said.

The New Yorker

That still happens, but less and less.

The New York Times

That is becoming less and less possible.

The Economist

It seemed to matter less and less.

The New York Times - Magazine

But this looks less and less likely.

The Economist

They are less and less 'real' celebrities.

The New York Times

The airwaves are used less and less.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less and less" to describe trends that are gradually decreasing over time. Ensure that the context clearly indicates what is diminishing. For example, "There is less and less interest in traditional media among younger generations."

Common error

Avoid using "less and less" when referring to countable items. The correct phrase in that context is "fewer and fewer". For example, say "fewer and fewer people are attending the meetings" instead of "less and less people are attending the meetings".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less and less" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a progressive decrease in quantity, degree, or frequency. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its use in describing trends and changes over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less and less" serves as a versatile adverbial modifier to depict gradual decrease over time, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and commonly used across diverse registers, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral, it's essential to differentiate its usage from "fewer and fewer" when referring to countable nouns. By using best practices from this guide, you can effectively employ "less and less" to convey diminishing trends in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ever less

Reorders the words slightly to emphasize the continuous reduction.

decreasingly

This single word replaces the phrase with a direct adverb indicating a reduction over time.

gradually reducing

Focuses on the process of reduction happening bit by bit.

dwindling

A single word implying a shrinking or lessening effect.

shrinking steadily

Combines the idea of shrinking with a sense of consistent progression.

steadily diminishing

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate a gradual decline.

in diminishing amounts

Highlights the reduction in the amount or quantity of something.

on the decline

Emphasizes a downward trend.

progressively smaller

Highlights the size aspect of the decrease.

becoming infrequent

Shifts the focus to the decreasing frequency of something.

FAQs

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

Use "less and less" to describe something that is decreasing over time. For example, "I find myself with "less and less" free time these days".

What's a good alternative to "less and less"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "decreasingly", "ever less", or "steadily diminishing" to express a similar idea.

Is it correct to say "less and less" or "fewer and fewer"?

Use "less and less" for uncountable nouns (e.g., time, interest, money) and "fewer and fewer" for countable nouns (e.g., people, cars, books).

What is the difference between "less and less" and "more and more"?

"Less and less" indicates a decreasing quantity or intensity, while "more and more" indicates an increasing quantity or intensity. They are antonyms.