less concerns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less concerns" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "fewer concerns," as "concerns" is a countable noun. Example: "We have fewer concerns about the project's timeline now that we have additional resources."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"From an antitrust perspective, I don't think there is any other airline merger with less concerns," Mr. Smisek said in an interview.

The New York Times

The overall plot, more or less, concerns a Spanish narrator named Jaime/Jacobo/Jacques Deza, a translator who is recruited by a branch of Britain's MI6 to... well, there's the rub.

The New York Times - Books

Patients who found their medication list comprehensive had less concerns about their medication.

BioMed Research International

Doctors also generally expressed positive opinions about EMR systems and had somehow less concerns regarding the potential risks to the privacy of patients' medical information.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Contrary to expectations, patients were less active in recent consultations, talking less, asking fewer questions and showing less concerns or worries.

BMC Family Practice

The parents who received an informational fact sheet on childhood heart murmurs had slightly, but not significantly, less concerns compared to the control group.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Three-point response options: more concerned, no difference, less concerned.

BMJ Open

Others seemed less concerned about the legality of the product and more concerned about the competition.

The New York Times

Others were less concerned.

The New York Times

Other neighbors were less concerned.

The New York Times

Mr. Yee seemed less concerned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for variety, consider using alternatives such as "reduced concerns" or "diminished anxieties" for a more nuanced expression of the idea.

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns like "concerns". While it might sound natural in informal speech, it is grammatically incorrect. Remember that "less" is for uncountable nouns, such as "less water" or "less time". Use "fewer" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less concerns" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to indicate a reduction in the amount or intensity of worries or anxieties. Despite its usage, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically incorrect and should ideally be replaced.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less concerns" appears in various sources, including news and scientific publications, it's important to note that it is considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct alternative is "fewer concerns", as "concerns" is a countable noun. When aiming for clear and accurate communication, especially in formal writing, opting for "fewer concerns" or similar alternatives such as "reduced concerns" is highly recommended. Remember that while the phrase might be understood, adhering to grammatical standards enhances credibility and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer concerns

This is the grammatically correct alternative, using "fewer" with the countable noun "concerns".

reduced concerns

This alternative uses a past participle adjective to describe a decrease in concerns.

diminished concerns

This option suggests a lessening in the intensity or magnitude of concerns.

less worry

This substitutes "concerns" with the more general term "worry".

fewer worries

This option uses "fewer" with "worries", the plural form of "worry", for grammatical correctness.

decreased anxiety

This alternative focuses on reducing anxiety, a specific type of concern.

alleviated concerns

This phrase implies that actions have been taken to reduce the level of concern.

mitigated concerns

Similar to alleviated, this suggests actions to lessen the severity of concerns.

lessened anxieties

This option uses "anxieties", which is a more intense and personal form of concern.

eased worries

This conveys a sense of comfort or relief regarding the worries.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "less concerns"?

The correct way to express a reduction in worries or apprehensions is to use "fewer concerns". This is because "concerns" is a countable noun, requiring the use of "fewer" instead of "less".

Can I use "less" instead of "fewer" with countable nouns like "concerns"?

In formal writing, it is generally not acceptable to use "less" with countable nouns. Stick to using "fewer concerns" for grammatical accuracy. While "less" might occasionally be heard in informal speech, it's best to avoid it in professional contexts.

What are some alternatives to saying "less concerns"?

You can use alternatives like "reduced concerns", "diminished concerns", or "fewer worries" depending on the context.

Is "less concerning" the same as "fewer concerns"?

"Less concerning" and "fewer concerns" are not interchangeable. "Less concerning" is an adjective phrase describing something that causes less worry, while "fewer concerns" refers to a reduced number of specific worries or apprehensions.