less connections

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less connections" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "fewer connections," as "fewer" is used for countable nouns. Example: "The new system has fewer connections than the previous one, making it easier to manage."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"That is thought to underlie memory impairment – if you have less connections, neurons aren't communicating, all of a sudden you have [problems] in learning and memory".

The Guardian

"Is it because we are a local Palestinian company with less connections than other service providers around the world?" Obaigbena said Arise had a "payment plan" with 4D Media and "have paid 30 per cent of their invoices".

Independent

The meta-skills thesis has less connections than the thesis on the subject-based school, but it also has threads to the objectives of learning (competences), the changes of the teaching profession, and the transformation of the forms of learning.

European Journal of Futures Research

This 'control experiment' showed that there were dramatically less connections found in the largest component.

Archives of Toxicology

Typically, in GRNs there are far less connections than theoretically possible leading to a sparse matrix A =. Regarding this property and avoiding problems occurring by the number of usually available measurement data (parameter identifiability, local or unique solutions, computational effort) the NetGenerator algorithm applies a heuristic approach as described in the next subsection.

BMC Systems Biology

It has more direct flights which translate to cheaper because there are less connections.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

So less connection with their communities, not more.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even less connection has he with Time's only other unprofitable venture.

The New Yorker

Orchestra members said there was even less connection with the audience during the morning dress rehearsal.

The New York Times

After years of training and having movement dissected, criticised and analysed, we have less connection to that.

The Guardian

Or, even worse, what is wrong with their religion, Islam, which has still less connection to the issue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to countable items like connections, always use "fewer" instead of "less" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable nouns. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer connections").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less connections" typically functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. It attempts to describe a reduced quantity of links, relationships, or associations. However, as Ludwig AI points out, "less" is not grammatically correct with countable nouns like "connections".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less connections" is used to indicate a smaller number of links, relationships, or associations. However, it's crucial to note that, as Ludwig AI reports, the grammatically correct form is "fewer connections" because "connections" is a countable noun. While "less connections" appears in various contexts, including news, science, and wiki articles, its use is generally considered incorrect in formal writing. Remember to use "fewer" for countable nouns and consider alternatives like "reduced connections" or "diminished connections" for clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer connections

Replaces "less" with "fewer", the correct quantifier for countable nouns.

reduced connections

Emphasizes the act of reducing the number of connections, suitable when connections have been intentionally decreased.

diminished connections

Suggests a weakening or reduction in the strength or effectiveness of connections.

decreased connections

Similar to reduced connections but emphasizes a gradual decline.

smaller number of connections

Focuses on the quantity of connections being lower.

limited connections

Highlights that connections are restricted or not as extensive as desired.

scarce connections

Emphasizes a lack or rarity of connections.

minimal connections

Indicates that the connections are at the lowest possible level.

weak connections

Focuses on the quality of connections, suggesting they are not strong or reliable.

tenuous connections

Suggests that connections are fragile and easily disrupted.

FAQs

Should I use "less connections" or "fewer connections"?

You should use "fewer connections". "Fewer" is used with countable nouns, while "less" is used with uncountable nouns.

What does "reduced connections" mean?

The phrase "reduced connections" indicates that the number of links, relationships, or associations has been decreased. It suggests a decline or limitation in the extent of connectivity.

How can I say "less connections" in a more formal way?

In formal writing, use "fewer connections", "decreased connections", or "diminished connections" to maintain grammatical accuracy and a professional tone.

What are some synonyms for "less connections"?

Synonyms include "fewer links", "reduced relationships", or "limited associations". The best choice depends on the specific context.