less culpable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less culpable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing degrees of blame or responsibility in a situation, often in legal or moral contexts. Example: "In this case, the defendant was found to be less culpable than his accomplice due to his limited involvement in the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Ms. Wang, you are not less culpable.

The New York Times

That doesn't mean he is less dangerous or less culpable.

The New York Times

Was prearranged murder less culpable than spontaneous murder?

The Guardian - Opinion

Finally, women are often less culpable when they commit crime.

The Guardian - Opinion

The jury was swayed and ultimately returned a verdict for less culpable charges.

Harvard University

Dr. Cushman observed that we generally hold individuals less culpable when their actions are involuntary.

Harvard University

Fidelity, while less culpable, also took plan assets in violation of its fiduciary duty".

The New York Times

Make it "as culpable as or less culpable than" — or, better still, rephrase.

The New York Times

But they are less culpable than adults and should not be subject to the ultimate punishment.

The New York Times

Their clients, they say, are less culpable than others who will not be sentenced to death.

The New York Times

Children, in other words, are both less culpable than adults and more capable of reform, states the report.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less culpable", ensure a clear comparison is established. It implies someone or something else is more culpable. For example: "He was found to be "less culpable" than his accomplice."

Common error

Avoid using "less culpable" without specifying what or whom the subject is less culpable than. This can lead to ambiguity. Always provide the reference point for the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less culpable" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a reduced degree of responsibility or blameworthiness. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is used correctly and frequently in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

26%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less culpable" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase that indicates a reduced degree of responsibility or blameworthiness. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate use in written English. It is typically found in neutral to formal contexts such as news, academic, and legal settings. When using "less culpable", ensure a clear comparison is made to specify what or who the subject is less culpable than, avoiding ambiguity. Alternatives such as "less blameworthy" or "less responsible" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less blameworthy

Direct synonym; emphasizes the reduced level of blame.

less to blame

Focuses on comparing levels of blame between different entities.

less responsible

Focuses on the reduced accountability for an action.

less guilty

Highlights diminished culpability from a legal perspective.

mitigated responsibility

Highlights that the responsibility is lessened by certain circumstances.

partially innocent

Suggests a degree of innocence that mitigates full culpability.

relatively faultless

Implies a comparison where the subject has fewer faults.

somewhat absolved

Indicates a partial release from blame or responsibility.

marginally liable

Denotes a slight level of legal responsibility.

excusable to some extent

Emphasizes that there are reasons to excuse the person's actions.

FAQs

How to use "less culpable" in a sentence?

Use "less culpable" to indicate a reduced degree of responsibility or blameworthiness compared to someone or something else. For example, "The judge ruled that the driver was "less culpable" than the company that failed to maintain the vehicle properly."

What can I say instead of "less culpable"?

You can use alternatives like "less blameworthy", "less responsible", or "less guilty", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "less culpable" or "fewer culpable"?

"Less culpable" is correct. "Culpable" refers to a degree of responsibility, which is a non-countable concept, therefore "less" is appropriate, as it is used for non-countable nouns. "Fewer" is used with countable nouns.

What's the difference between "less culpable" and "not culpable"?

"Less culpable" indicates a reduced degree of responsibility or blame, while "not culpable" means entirely free from blame or responsibility. The first one implies some degree of fault. The second one means innocent.