less count on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less count on" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would typically be "count less on." Example: "In uncertain times, it's wise to count less on external support and rely more on your own resources."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although you can more or less count on getting your period once a month, the length of your cycle may be very different from someone else's.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I hadn't been expecting any money from Walt, still less counting on it.

The New Yorker

We find that individuals who report having fewer people they could really count on were less likely to become organ donors after their death s.

BMC Health Services Research

The 4G auction – the biggest sale of British airwaves in a decade – has raised just £2.3bn for the public purse, a third less than the Treasury was counting on to keep its borrowing in check.

The Guardian - Business

The quarter-point cut, to 4.75percentt, was less than Wall Street had been counting on, and that helped set off a selling spree that sent the Dow Jones industrial average plunging 294 points, or 2.14percentt.

The New York Times

The less detainees can count on the governments to follow through, the less inclined they'll be to accept such arrangements".

The New York Times

—Andy Logan, "Irishry," Around City Hall, February 9 , 1976In his State of the State Message, on January 7th, Governor Hugh Carey called on his fellow New Yorkers to recognize Albany's "new realities" and in the coming year to count on "less government, less spending, fewer government employees, less interference in the lives of our citizens".

The New Yorker

In his State of the State Message, on January 7th, Governor Hugh Carey called on his fellow New Yorkers to recognize Albany's "new realities" and in the coming year to count on "less government, less spending, fewer government employees, less interference in the lives of our citizens".

The New Yorker

The less fortunate could count on the extraordinary generosity of the American people, who at last count had provided over $1.5 billion in private charity.

The New York Times

We'll be waiting for something a bit less absurd to count on.

TechCrunch

And the bigger the production, the less you can count on getting any "direction".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express reduced dependence, it's generally more effective to use established phrases like "rely less on" or "depend less on" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid placing "less" before "count on". It's clearer and grammatically sounder to say "count on something less" or use alternative phrases like "rely less on" to convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less count on" attempts to express a reduced reliance or expectation. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, its grammatical structure is non-standard. It can be seen as an attempt to modify the verb phrase "count on" with the adverb "less".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "less count on" aims to convey diminished reliance, it's grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect in standard written English. Preferring alternatives like "rely less on" or "depend less on" ensures clarity and correctness. The phrase sees infrequent usage, primarily in news, wiki and scientific contexts. When expressing reduced dependence, prioritize established grammatical structures for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely less on

Emphasizes a decrease in dependence on something.

depend less on

Similar to 'rely less on', focusing on reduced dependency.

count on less

Inverts the word order of the original phrase while conveying a similar meaning of diminished expectation.

expect less from

Focuses on lowering expectations regarding someone or something.

place less faith in

Highlights a reduction in trust or confidence.

have less confidence in

Indicates a decrease in assurance or belief.

bank on less

Suggests a reduction in reliance, often in a financial or strategic sense.

put less stock in

Implies a reduced valuation or importance assigned to something.

lean on less

Suggests diminishing support or dependence.

anticipate less from

Emphasizes reduced anticipation or expectation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less count on" to sound more natural?

Instead of "less count on", try using phrases like "rely less on" or "depend less on" which are grammatically correct and widely accepted.

What is a common mistake when using the phrase "count on"?

A frequent error is misplacing words by saying "less count on" instead of the correct form: "count on less". Always ensure the adverb "less" is positioned correctly for clarity.

Is "less count on" grammatically correct?

No, "less count on" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Better alternatives include "rely less on" or "depend less on".

What are some alternatives to "less count on" that emphasize diminished expectation?

You can use phrases such as "expect less from" or "have less confidence in" to convey a similar meaning of reduced anticipation or trust.