less competitive than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less competitive than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the competitiveness of two or more entities, indicating that one is not as competitive as the other. Example: "In the current market, our product is less competitive than our main rival's offering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Often the competition is less competitive than for an off-campus job.

WikiHow

The researchers devised an academic game to test the students' competitiveness and found that the girls, on average, are significantly less competitive than the boys.

Science Magazine

Typically admission is less competitive than clinical psychology Ph.D. programs.

Cornell University

Admission is less competitive than Ph.D. programs in psychology.

Cornell University

Some of these lectureships would be less competitive than others.

The Guardian

Half of EU countries were less competitive than they were a year ago and five were less competitive than Iran.

The Guardian

In contrast, Melaleuca was significantly less competitive than Phragmites.

Science of The Total Environment

Pyridine was far less competitive than charged derivatives in ionization.

Analytica Chimica Acta

Typically admission for counseling psychology programs is less competitive than clinical psychology programs.

Cornell University

But partisan gerrymandering has made House elections far less competitive than other races.

The New York Times

Or are women just less physically able, or less competitive, than men?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the competitiveness of two entities, ensure you clearly define the criteria you are using to assess competitiveness. For example, "Our product is "less competitive than" theirs in terms of price but more competitive in terms of features".

Common error

Avoid using "less competitive than" without a clear point of comparison. Always specify what the subject is "less competitive than" to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "Our company is "less competitive", say "Our company is "less competitive than" our main competitor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less competitive than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one entity possesses a lower degree of competitiveness compared to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and well-supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

19%

Science

17%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less competitive than" is a common and grammatically correct way to compare the competitiveness of two entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to indicate that one entity has a lower degree of competitiveness than another. This phrase is frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and scientific publications. When using "less competitive than", it's crucial to clearly define the criteria for comparison and avoid ambiguity by specifying what is being compared. Alternatives include "not as competitive as" and "weaker than". By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "less competitive than" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as competitive as

Replaces "less" with "not as", maintaining the comparative structure but using different wording.

not so competitive as

Similar to "not as competitive as" but with a slightly different emphasis.

weaker than

Focuses on the relative strength, implying a lack of competitiveness.

inferior to

Directly states the lower quality or ability, implying a lack of competitiveness.

at a disadvantage compared to

Shifts the focus to the disadvantage, implying reduced competitiveness.

outmatched by

Highlights the superior competitive ability of the other entity.

not in the same league as

Idiomatic expression indicating a significant difference in competitiveness.

struggling against

Emphasizes the difficulty in competing, suggesting a weaker position.

overshadowed by

Indicates that one entity's competitiveness is diminished by the presence of a stronger competitor.

losing ground to

Suggests a decline in competitiveness relative to another entity.

FAQs

How can I use "less competitive than" in a sentence?

Use "less competitive than" to compare the competitiveness of two entities. For example, "The smaller company is "less competitive than" the industry leader in terms of market share".

What's a simple alternative to "less competitive than"?

Alternatives include "not as competitive as" or "weaker than" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify what something is "less competitive than"?

Yes, specifying the comparison is crucial for clarity. Without it, the statement lacks context and becomes ambiguous. For example: "Their product is "less competitive than" ours in terms of price".

How does "less competitive than" differ from "not competitive"?

"Less competitive than" implies a comparison, while "not competitive" suggests a general lack of competitiveness. For example, "Company A is "less competitive than" Company B", but "Company C is simply "not competitive" in the current market".