less area

USAGE SUMMARY

'less area' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts to describe a situation where something covers or occupies an area that is smaller than it used to or than something else. For example, "The park had been built up so much that there was less area available for the animals to roam."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This year's crowd covered less area, however, than that throng.

The New York Times

Missing values should occupy less area in the spatial grid.

Columbia University

The proposed chip outperforms with less area and higher gain.

Microelectronics Journal

"We now tow over 70percentt less area," said Mike Pittman, Clearwater's vessel manager.

The New York Times - Sports

"As we pave over wetlands, there's less area to clean the water," Ms. Cooney said.

The New York Times

Near-shore use is difficult because the oil has less area to disperse and dilute.

The New York Times

Among fuel reduction treatments, large blocks burned less area than small blocks.

Ecological Modelling

Compared to uLBDR, our method has 14% less area requirements and 16% less overall power consumption.

Microelectronics Reliability

It means less intensity, shallower depth, and less area disturbed, either in the bed, field or across the farm.

Cornell University

"We think we can use high-efficiency materials to provide the same flexibility using five times less area," says Nielson.

MIT Technology Review

For instance, a solar sail requires much less area to function effectively due to a lower mass to manipulate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environmental impact, use "less area" to highlight reduced land usage or habitat destruction.

Common error

While similar, "less area" generally refers to a reduction in area, while "smaller area" simply describes the size. Use "less area" when emphasizing a change or reduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less area" functions primarily as a quantifier phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a smaller extent or surface. This is supported by Ludwig examples that show it describing physical spaces, regions, or amounts of coverage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less area" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate a reduction in size or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related content, the phrase maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for diverse writing styles. When aiming for clarity and precision, remember that while alternatives like "smaller area" exist, "less area" emphasizes a reduction rather than simply describing size. Use this phrase confidently to convey diminished spatial dimensions or scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller area

Focuses on the physical dimension being smaller.

reduced area

Emphasizes the action of area reduction.

decreased area

Highlights a decline in the extent of something.

less coverage

Focuses on the amount of area covered.

smaller footprint

Implies a reduced impact or presence.

narrower scope

Shifts the focus to the breadth or range.

limited extent

Stresses the boundaries or limits.

smaller scale

Emphasizes the relative size or magnitude.

diminished size

Highlights the reduced dimensions of something.

contracted region

Highlights the shrinking or compression of a specific region.

FAQs

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

You can use "less area" to describe a reduction in the size of something, for example: "The new building design requires "less area" than the original plan."

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

Alternatives include "smaller area", "reduced area", or "decreased area", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fewer area" instead of "less area"?

No, use "less" with non-countable nouns like area. "Fewer" is for countable nouns.

What's the difference between "less area" and "smaller footprint"?

"Less area" is a general term for reduced surface, while "smaller footprint" often implies a reduced environmental or resource impact.