less cell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less cell" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a smaller number of cells or a reduction in cell quantity, but without context, it is ambiguous. Example: "To improve efficiency, we need to focus on using less cell in our design."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

There are no telephones, much less cell phones or computers, and not a TV in sight.

The New Yorker

After adjusting for age, they found that the women with the most moles also had the longest telomeres -- the equivalent of a difference of six to seven years less cell aging compared with those who had the fewest moles.

The New York Times

According to the manufacturer's data, it has less cell toxicity and is better at killing H.I.V. Then there are four others that all belong to the same class of substances: nonspecific inhibitors of H.I.V. entry.

The New York Times - Health

Cells with composite electrolytes show higher capacity, reduced capacity fade, and less cell polarization than those with filler-free electrolyte.

Electrochimica Acta

Generally, anaerobic micro-organisms show less cell yield while converting more substrate into product i.e. high ethanol yields [26, 42].

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Treating with OA-Fe3O4 induced less cell damage than that of Fe3O4, while the C-Fe causes serious cell damage.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

In practical FRET measurements, this resulted in much less cell-to-cell variability and it allowed collection of meaningful FLIM data in prolonged time-lapses.

Plosone

Dasatinib significantly inhibited invasion, and induced cell apoptosis, but less cell-cycle arrest.

British Journal of Cancer

Conversely, CGIs and promoters exhibited significantly less cell-type specific differences.

Epigenetics

It has been commonly regarded that upon RT, the larger the tumor tissue is; the less cell-killing rate is.

BMC Genomics

We have also shown that HI genes tend to have slightly less conservation at the promoter and slightly less cell-cycle regulation.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a smaller quantity of cells, prefer using "fewer cells" or "reduced cell count" for grammatical accuracy. In contexts where the reference is to cellular damage or death, consider using phrases like "less cell damage" or "less cell death."

Common error

A common mistake is using "less" with countable nouns like "cells". Always use "fewer" when referring to a countable number of items. For instance, instead of saying "less cells were observed", say "fewer cells were observed". Using "fewer cells" maintains grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less cell" functions as a quantifier combined with a noun. It typically aims to express a reduced quantity, impact, or activity associated with cells, such as "less cell death" or "less cell growth". As Ludwig AI explains, it might not always be grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

89%

News & Media

10%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less cell" is frequently used, particularly in scientific and medical contexts, to denote a reduction related to cells. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect as "less" is typically used with uncountable nouns. In cases where referring to the number of cells, "fewer cells" is more accurate. Although widely used, especially in scientific publications, consider using more precise and grammatically correct alternatives like "fewer cells" or "reduced cell count" for enhanced clarity and professionalism. When indicating a decrease in cellular damage, "less cell damage" is acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer cells

Replaces "less" with "fewer", which is grammatically correct when referring to countable nouns like "cells".

reduced cell count

Uses a noun phrase to describe the condition of having fewer cells.

decreased cell number

Replaces "less" with "decreased" to describe a reduction in the number of cells.

lower cell density

Indicates a reduction in the concentration of cells within a given volume.

diminished cellular activity

Focuses on the reduced functional performance of cells.

attenuated cell growth

Describes the slowing down or weakening of cell growth.

mitigated cellular damage

Highlights a reduction in harm inflicted upon cells.

inhibited cell proliferation

Emphasizes the prevention or slowing of cell reproduction.

less cellular material

Refers to a smaller quantity of substance derived from cells.

reduced cell viability

Indicates a decrease in the number of living cells.

FAQs

How to correctly use "less" and "fewer" when referring to cells?

Use "fewer" when referring to the number of cells, as cells are countable. For example, say "fewer cells" not "less cells". Use "less" when referring to the amount of cellular material or damage, as these are uncountable. For example, "less cell damage" is acceptable.

What are some alternatives to saying "less cell" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, instead of "less cell", you can use phrases like "fewer cells", "reduced cell count", or "decreased cell number" depending on the specific context to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less cell death"?

While "less cell death" is commonly used, it's more accurate to consider 'death' as a concept (uncountable), so "less" is acceptable in this context. However, you might also consider rephrasing to something like "fewer instances of cell death" for more formal writing.

When should I use "less" versus "fewer" in biological contexts?

"Less" is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less damage), while "fewer" is used for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer cells", fewer bacteria). Ensure you choose the correct term based on what you're quantifying to maintain grammatical accuracy.