less clientele

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less clientele" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct term would be "fewer clientele" since "clientele" is a countable noun. Example: "The restaurant has fewer clientele during the winter months compared to summer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Globalization and Health

The New York Times - Travel

The New York Times - Food

The New Yorker

The New York Times

The New Yorker

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The New York Times

The New York Times - Tech

The New York Times - Arts

The New York Times

TechCrunch

Forbes

BMC Medical Ethics

The New York Times

Encyclopedia Britannica

The New York Times

The Guardian - Business

The New Yorker

Forbes

Vice

Huffington Post

Globalization and Health

BMC Health Services Research

The Economist

The New York Times

The New York Times - Food

The New Yorker

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The New York Times

Forbes

Huffington Post

The Guardian - Travel

Huffington Post

The New York Times - Arts

The New York Times

Forbes

Huffington Post

The Guardian - Travel

Huffington Post

The Economist

Forbes

The New York Times - Travel

The New Yorker

The New York Times - Arts

The New York Times

Health & Justice

The New York Times - Sports

Forbes

Independent

The New York Times

Forbes

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There is nothing special about them, but the only thing is just you get the same money and less clientele.

Globalization and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

For better food and a less rowdy clientele, head to the Original Crab Shanty (361 City Island Avenue, 718-885-1810, originalcrabshanty.com).com

The New York Times - Travel

Prices are scaled for a less elite clientele than the brothers cultivated at El Bulli, and for a troubled Spanish economy.

The New York Times - Food

At the show's center is a character portrait, the story of James Jimmy McGillll (Odenkirk), a seedy attorney scrambling for gigs among Albuquerque's less affluent clientele.

The New Yorker

Medicare cuts are a political loser, but Medicaid — serving a far less powerful clientele than the middle class — has become highly vulnerable to their ax.

The New York Times

The plan was to lure into the store a less wealthy clientele, who would eventually trespass upstairs and buy the expensive stuff.

The New Yorker

"They will try to re-engineer their menus so that they can attract a less wealthy clientele in a different style in a different place.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For the dancers, upscale means not only bigger tips but also a safer environment, less lewd clientele and nicer co-workers.

The New York Times

My only bartending stint involved mixing boring drinks for rich people who were waiting to sit for dinner, so I never learned the sorts of bar tricks that might entertain a less transient clientele.

The New York Times - Tech

The firm catered to wealthy individuals but also took on a less affluent clientele with the establishment, in 1950, of the Neuberger Guardian mutual fund, one of the first funds to be sold without the usual 8.5 percent upfront sales commission.

The New York Times - Arts

There are gyms with less lackadaisical clientele in London, I know, gyms where young, buff investment bankers in bicycle shorts sweat and strut as if they worked on Wall Street and were members of the New York Health and Racquet Club.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the size of a customer base, use "fewer clientele" or "smaller clientele" to ensure grammatical accuracy. "Clientele" is a countable noun, so it pairs best with "fewer".

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns like "clientele". "Less" is appropriate for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less traffic"). Using "fewer" maintains grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less clientele" functions as a modifier (the adjective "less") plus a noun ("clientele"). Despite being used in several contexts, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not grammatically correct. Therefore it is best to look for an alternative.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less clientele" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The core issue is the use of "less" with the countable noun "clientele"; "fewer clientele" or "smaller clientele" would be grammatically sound alternatives. Predominantly found in news and media, its purpose is to denote a reduction in a business's customer base. When writing, prioritize grammatical correctness by opting for alternatives such as "fewer clients", "reduced customer base", or "smaller clientele".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer clients

Emphasizes the countability of individual clients, aligning with standard grammatical usage.

reduced customer base

Focuses on the overall customer base being smaller in size.

smaller clientele

Uses a more grammatically sound adjective to describe the size of the clientele.

decreased patronage

Highlights the reduction in support or business from customers.

diminished clientele

Implies a gradual reduction in the number of customers.

lower client volume

Shifts focus to the volume of clients or business handled.

scarcer patronage

Suggests that customer support is not easily available or has become limited.

thinner ranks of customers

Metaphorically describes a customer base that has become less populated.

declining client numbers

Directly states that the number of clients is decreasing.

contracting market share

Indicates a reduction in the portion of the market served by the business.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "less clientele"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. "Clientele" is a countable noun, so you should use "fewer" instead of "less". The correct phrase is "fewer clientele".

What is a more appropriate way to describe a smaller customer base?

Instead of "less clientele", consider using phrases like "smaller clientele", "reduced customer base", or "fewer clients".

What's the difference between using "less" and "fewer"?

"Less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time), while "fewer" is used with countable nouns (e.g., clients, cars). Since "clientele" refers to a group of individual clients, "fewer" is the grammatically correct choice.

Can I use "less" with collective nouns like "clientele"?

While "clientele" is a collective noun, it represents a group of countable individuals. Therefore, it's more accurate to use "fewer" or alternatives like "smaller number of clients" or "decreased patronage".