less conscientious than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less conscientious than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare the level of conscientiousness between two subjects, indicating that one is not as careful or diligent as the other. Example: "In terms of project management, she is less conscientious than her colleague, often missing deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Chinese children born after the policy have grown up to become less altruistic and trusting, more timid, less competitive, more pessimistic and less conscientious than the Chinese who were born just before the policy, they claimed.

Independent

Although the Henry VI plays, written when Shakespeare was still in his 20's, are decidedly less conscientious than his later plays in hewing to the historical record, divergences tend to be the result of the playwright's need to compress vast sweeps of time into a manageable drama.

The New York Times - Books

The fact that significant reverse effects (e.g., firstborns less conscientious than laterborns) are rarely found, suggests that birth-order effects are at work, but masked by certain research designs.

Encyclopedia of Infant and Early Childhood Development

The researchers found that study participants who became only children because of the policy were less trustworthy and less conscientious than others, even after controlling for factors like gender and education. .

Science Magazine

In terms of the five-factor model, she is less conscientious than the others, and a medium-high scorer on neuroticism.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

By contrast, conscientiousness was negatively associated with both competencies, indicating that more conscientious respondents have, on average, lower numeracy and literacy skills than less conscientious respondents.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

But Argentina is seen as far less conscientious, and far less important.

The New York Times

When attempted by a less conscientious researcher, Shaara's technique brims with danger.

The New York Times

Nice work... Fellow party-goer Caprice was in a somewhat less conscientious frame of mind.

Independent

Ms. Randall's copyeditors were a bit less conscientious, rendering his first name "Cormack" in the acknowledgments.

The New York Times

However I am aware also that perhaps some less conscientious individuals may be trying to produce substances in garages".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Make sure the comparison is fair and based on objective criteria. Avoid subjective judgments or generalizations. For example: "The new intern was less conscientious than the previous one in adhering to the company's safety protocols".

Common error

Avoid using "less conscientious than" to make sweeping judgments about a person's overall character. Focus on specific behaviors or tasks to avoid unfair or inaccurate assessments. For example, instead of saying "John is less conscientious than Mary", specify "John is less conscientious than Mary about meeting deadlines."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less conscientious than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one subject possesses a lower degree of conscientiousness compared to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

6.666666666666667%

Less common in

Wiki

6.666666666666667%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less conscientious than" is a grammatically correct and usable comparative phrase, as supported by Ludwig AI. It's used to compare the level of diligence or carefulness between two subjects, with applications spanning across news, scientific, and general contexts. While not exceedingly common, its usage is well-established and understood. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is specific and based on objective criteria. Alternatives like "not as diligent as" or "less meticulous than" can offer subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as diligent as

Replaces "conscientious" with "diligent", focusing on the effort and perseverance aspect.

not as careful as

Substitutes "conscientious" with "careful", highlighting the attention to detail.

more lax than

Uses "lax" to convey a lack of strictness or conscientiousness, offering a slightly more informal tone.

less meticulous than

Replaces "conscientious" with "meticulous", emphasizing the attention to detail and precision.

not as thorough as

Emphasizes the completeness and exhaustiveness aspect of being conscientious.

more remiss than

Uses "remiss" to indicate a neglect of duty or responsibility, offering a stronger negative connotation.

not as attentive as

Highlights the attentiveness and awareness aspect of conscientiousness.

more irresponsible than

Emphasizes the lack of responsibility and accountability.

less painstaking than

Substitutes "conscientious" with "painstaking", focusing on the effort and attention to detail.

not as scrupulous as

Replaces "conscientious" with "scrupulous", focusing on moral or ethical considerations.

FAQs

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

Use "less conscientious than" to compare two subjects, indicating one is not as careful or diligent as the other in a specific area. For example, "In terms of project management, she is "less conscientious than" her colleague, often missing deadlines."

What are some alternatives to saying "less conscientious than"?

You can use alternatives like "not as diligent as", "less meticulous than", or "more lax than" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "less conscientious than"?

Yes, "less conscientious than" is grammatically correct and commonly used to compare the level of conscientiousness between two subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

What is the difference between "less conscientious than" and "more irresponsible than"?

"Less conscientious than" implies a lack of diligence or care, while "more irresponsible than" suggests a neglect of duty or a lack of accountability. The latter carries a stronger negative connotation.