less compensation

USAGE SUMMARY

"less compensation" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in any context where you are discussing a situation in which someone receives less money than usual or expected. For example: "The employees were dissatisfied with their salary offer, as they had been expecting more compensation, but the company could only offer them less."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

The downside is there's less compensation in it for you.

The Guardian

The payout guidelines already allowed wronged homeowners less compensation than the losses they suffered, she said.

The Guardian - Business

"I agreed to make a deal for less compensation than I was accustomed to getting".

The New York Times

Greater confidence has driven down yields as investors needed less compensation for risk.

The Economist

Mrs Jones, too, has ended up with less compensation than she hoped for.

The Economist

Poorer people, for whom an extra dollar is highly valuable, will take less compensation for facing danger.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Controlling for the simultaneous determination of CEO pay structure and board design, we find that firms with a higher proportion of non-independent outsiders on their boards pay less direct compensation (salary + bonus) and less equity-linked compensation to their CEOs.

BRQ Business Research Quarterly

Tang said, "They saw how enthusiastic STX's employees were, and that they were willing to take less in compensation for much more in incentives.

The New Yorker

Civilians receive considerably less in compensation than the average soldier; where a sergeant receives an average payoff of around £65,000, a civilian receives around £30,000 on average.

The Guardian

"In the current set-up, some veterans suffering with mesothelioma could receive around £150,000 less in compensation than their civilian counterparts," they added.

Independent

Lawyers who specialize in liability cases said the families of the victims of the attacks would almost certainly receive much less in compensation through a federal payment program than in court.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employment contracts or legal settlements, use "less compensation" to accurately reflect a reduction in the total package, including salary, benefits, and other perks.

Common error

Avoid using "less compensation" when referring only to salary. Instead, specify "lower salary" or "reduced wages" if benefits and other perks remain unchanged.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less compensation" primarily functions as a noun phrase that quantifies a reduced amount of payment or remuneration. Ludwig shows it used to describe decreases in salary, benefits, or overall earnings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less compensation" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a reduction in payment or benefits. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently used in news, scientific, and formal business contexts to indicate a decrease in overall earnings. While alternatives like "reduced payment" or "lower remuneration" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using "less compensation", ensure you are referring to the total package and not just salary, as that can be misleading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced payment

Focuses on the act of paying a smaller amount.

lower remuneration

Emphasizes the formal aspect of payment for services.

decreased earnings

Highlights the result of receiving a smaller income.

smaller payout

Refers to a one-time distribution of funds, like in a settlement.

diminished salary

Specifically addresses a reduction in regular wage or salary.

cut in pay

Directly indicates a reduction in the amount of money received.

reduced benefits

Focuses on non-wage compensation reductions.

smaller allowance

Suggests a regular, often smaller, allocation of funds.

lesser income

Emphasizes the overall reduction in the amount of money coming in.

inadequate reimbursement

Suggests the compensation doesn't fully cover costs or losses.

FAQs

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

You can use "less compensation" to describe situations where someone receives a reduced amount of money or benefits. For example, "Due to budget cuts, employees received "less compensation" this year than last year".

What's a good alternative for "less compensation"?

Alternatives include "reduced payment", "lower remuneration", or "decreased earnings", depending on the specific context.

Which is more appropriate: "less compensation" or "lower compensation"?

Both "less compensation" and "lower compensation" are acceptable. "Less" is generally used with uncountable nouns, while "lower" implies a relative scale. "Compensation" is often treated as an uncountable noun, making "less compensation" suitable.

What is the difference between "less compensation" and "less adequate compensation"?

"Less compensation" simply indicates a smaller amount of payment. "Less adequate compensation" /s/inadequate+reimbursement implies that the payment is not sufficient to cover costs or losses, adding a judgment about its suitability.