less and less often

USAGE SUMMARY

"less and less often" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something that is happening or occurring with less frequency over time. For example, "My friends and I used to get together on the weekends, but now we see each other less and less often."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

But lately, that need arises less and less often.

The New York Times

Gradually, I entered the sewing room less and less often.

The New York Times

After that, Ardent's senior personnel were at Bagshot Park less and less often when you called.

The Guardian

"Gun control," a relatively neutral term, has been used less and less often.

The New York Times

The contractors' trucks have come less and less often of late.

The Economist

Put those two trends together and you have a classic downturn in consumer demand: people spending less, and less often.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

American youngsters with jobs drive less far and less often than before the recession.

The Economist

This year, about half the nests in Alabama were moved; turtle-watch groups in Florida tend to move nests much less liberally and less often.

The New York Times - Magazine

Interestingly, HIV-2 is both less prevalent and less often fatal than HIV-1 in humans.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Parents with a history of smoking and parents of adolescents who had tried smoking were less efficacious, held weaker antismoking beliefs, and less often reported household smoking rules.

Addictive Behaviors

(On the whole, girls drank less -- and less often -- than boys, so while drinking patterns changed equally for both boys and girls, they started at different base lines. Also, only heterosexual couples were included in this study, because too few gay or lesbian couples identified themselves to make a representative sample).

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less and less often", ensure the context clearly indicates a trend over time. For example, instead of saying "I see him less and less often", specify a timeframe: "I've seen him less and less often since he moved away."

Common error

Avoid implying a direct cause when using "less and less often" if the relationship isn't explicitly stated. For instance, instead of "He studies less and less often, so he's failing", consider "He studies less and less often, and his grades are declining", which avoids assuming a causal link.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less and less often" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate a decrease in the frequency of an action or event over time. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples of its usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less and less often" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to indicate a decreasing trend in the frequency of an action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverbial phrase, and is commonly found in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts. When using the phrase, ensure a clear context indicating the trend over time, and be mindful of implying causation without evidence. Alternatives like "decreasingly frequently" or "with diminishing frequency" can offer stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreasingly frequently

Emphasizes the decreasing nature of the frequency, using an adverbial form.

with diminishing frequency

Highlights the gradual reduction in how often something happens.

more and more rarely

Uses "rarely" to convey the decreasing frequency, adding a sense of infrequency.

at longer and longer intervals

Focuses on the increasing gap between occurrences.

on fewer and fewer occasions

Highlights the decreasing number of instances or opportunities.

with ever-decreasing regularity

Implies a decline in the consistency or predictability of the occurrence.

to a declining extent

Focuses on the reducing degree or measure of the occurrence.

in dwindling numbers

Suggests a reduction in the count or quantity of occurrences.

with lessening incidence

Highlights a reduction in the rate or frequency of occurrence.

on a downward trend

Implies a gradual decrease, focusing on the pattern of reduction.

FAQs

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

Use "less and less often" to describe a decreasing frequency of an action or event over time. For example, "She visits her hometown "less and less often" as she gets older."

What are some alternatives to saying "less and less often"?

You can use phrases like "decreasingly frequently", "with diminishing frequency", or "more and more rarely" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less and less often"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Less and less often" is a common and accepted way to describe a gradual decrease in frequency.

What's the difference between "less and less often" and "rarely"?

"Rarely" indicates something happens infrequently, while "less and less often" suggests a declining trend in frequency over a period. For instance, "He goes to the movies rarely" means he doesn't go often, but "He goes to the movies "less and less often"" indicates he used to go more frequently, but now goes less.