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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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less contributions

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less contributions" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "fewer contributions" when referring to countable items. Example: "The project received fewer contributions this year compared to last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

According to the frontier molecular orbitals, the less contributions of Co2+ in determining the NLO responses of metal complexes arise from the action of bridging moiety in the charge transfer (CT) processes.

It is apparent that there were less contributions of individuals 2 and 4 to the pool.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Offering incentives to develop alternative power would lead to cleaner skies, less contribution to greenhouse gases than fossil fuel plants and less dependence on external power suppliers.

News & Media

The New York Times

In contrast, less contribution is provided by residual compressive stresses.

The chemical mechanism would also play a role in SERS enhancement with less contribution than LSPR[11].

It proves that conjugated pyrene plays much less contribution to frontier orbitals than non-conjugated pyrene.

The other contact with much smaller barrier (φ2) has much less contribution to the contact noise.

We had to conclude that grain boundary of BNII do less contribution to its thermal expansion.

The remaining two parameters have very less contribution towards mechanical properties of the 3D structures.

This is the reason why the grain boundary did less contribution to the thermal expansion of BNII.

The absorption of the heat of melting makes much less contribution than the thermal input from TD driven thermal conduction.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

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

Common error

Remember that "less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., fewer apples). Always use "fewer" when discussing contributions, as they are countable.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less contributions" typically functions as a noun phrase indicating a decrease in the amount or quantity of contributions. However, it is grammatically questionable when referring to countable items, as noted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less contributions" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect for countable items. The correct form is "fewer contributions". Consider alternatives like "reduced contributions" or "diminished contributions" to ensure grammatical accuracy, especially in formal writing. Use "less" only with uncountable nouns. Remember that "fewer" is for countable items and "less" for uncountable ones. Avoiding this mistake will improve your writing's clarity and correctness.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "less contributions"?

The grammatically correct way is to say "fewer contributions", as contributions are countable.

When should I use "less" versus "fewer"?

"Less" is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., less effort), while "fewer" is used for countable nouns (e.g., fewer people).

What are some alternatives to "less contributions"?

Depending on the context, you could use "reduced contributions", "diminished contributions", or "smaller contributions".

Is "less contributions" ever acceptable?

While you might encounter "less contributions" in informal contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Opt for "fewer contributions" to maintain accuracy.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: