less and quicker

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less and quicker" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to compare two qualities, but "less" should be paired with a comparative form, such as "faster" instead of "quicker." Example: "We need to find a way to do this with less effort and faster results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although in most cases both groups perceived a loss of overall services after harvesting, that loss was less and quicker to recover for beneficiaries with degrees.

Forest Ecosystems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"In all candor," she said, "I was looking for something less painful, less expensive and quicker to do -- and at this juncture, nothing else has percolated to the top".

The New York Times

In addition, the described two-step extraction was used and has been superior to the above because of less total volume (resulting in less dilution) and quicker handling.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Despite previous studies comparing continuous and intermittent administration have reached conflicting results [ 27], others demonstrated that continuous infusion of vancomycin is less expensive and quicker in achieving target concentration, resulting in less variability in serum concentrations [ 27, 19].

BMC Anesthesiology

In a speech on Tuesday Munby said divorce proceedings should be split from the process of dividing up assets, allowing for less painful and quicker separations.

The Guardian

This approach of differentiating these two species would be simpler, less costly and quicker than conventional sequencing of PCR products.

International Journal of Food Microbiology

MIS involves the latest technology and, compared with traditional open surgery, is widely used because it has the advantages of smaller incisions, less bleeding, and quicker recovery time.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Compared with the current and torque curves in [6], the curves in Figs. 11 12 have less overshoot and quicker dynamic response.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The advantage of joining a private company rather than the social security system is that it is less expensive and quicker to reimburse expenses.

Science Magazine

Compared to traditional peritoneal dialysis catheter placement, laparoscopic catheter placement has smaller scar, less pain, and quicker recovery.

BMC Nephrology

Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy is an alternative technique that is quick and avoids all sample preparation steps except for dilution and therefore is simpler, less costly and quicker than other most widely used techniques.

Dairy Science and Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, replace the phrase "less and quicker" with "fewer and faster" or "less and faster", depending on whether you are referring to countable or uncountable nouns.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when you should be using "fewer." "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less time, less effort), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., fewer steps, fewer errors). For example, say "fewer steps and faster results" instead of "less steps and quicker results".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less and quicker" functions as a comparative conjunction, aiming to describe a desired state of improvement. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English due to the mismatch between "less" and "quicker."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less and quicker" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers "less and faster" or "fewer and faster", depending on the noun type. Its purpose is to express a desire for efficiency, but its informal nature and grammatical issues suggest using more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "more efficient" or specifying what exactly is "less" (e.g., less time, fewer steps). Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use it, but mindful substitution is advisable for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faster and less

Replaces 'quicker' with 'faster' while retaining 'less', focusing on speed and reduction.

faster and fewer

Reverses the order and replaces 'quicker' with 'faster' and 'less' with 'fewer', emphasizing speed and reduced quantity.

swifter and lower

Uses 'swifter' and 'lower' maintaining the core meaning but altering the phrasing.

speedier and reduced

Uses synonyms for both 'quicker' and 'less', altering the tone slightly.

more rapid and decreased

Similar to 'speedier and reduced' but with a slightly different nuance.

shortened and lessened

Emphasizes the act of making something shorter or smaller.

more efficient

Condenses the idea into a single adjective, highlighting overall efficiency.

less time-consuming and reduced

Specifically addresses the time aspect, adding clarity.

expedited and minimized

Employs more formal synonyms, emphasizing a professional or business context.

more streamlined

Focuses on simplicity and efficiency in the process.

FAQs

Is the phrase "less and quicker" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, the phrase "less and quicker" is not considered entirely correct. It's often recommended to use "less and faster" (for uncountable nouns) or "fewer and faster" (for countable nouns) instead.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "less and quicker"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "more efficient", "less time-consuming", or "faster and less" to convey a similar meaning.

When should I use "less and faster" versus "fewer and faster"?

"Less and faster" is appropriate for uncountable nouns (e.g., "We need to find a solution that involves less effort and faster results"). "Fewer and faster" should be used for countable nouns (e.g., "The new system will require fewer steps and provide faster feedback").

How can I make a process "less and quicker"?

Instead of saying "less and quicker", consider rephrasing to emphasize efficiency. You might say you're aiming to make the process "more streamlined" or to achieve "faster results" with "reduced effort".