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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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less demonstrating

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less demonstrating" is not correct in standard English usage.
It may be intended to convey a reduced level of demonstration, but it is not a commonly accepted expression. Example: "The results were less demonstrating of the expected outcomes than we had hoped."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

For E4-AgNWs, the weight loss at high temperature is much less, demonstrating that after four cycles of washing, a mass of PVP and byproducts had been removed.

But he also played it safe — very safe — by not so much as mentioning, much less demonstrating, the filmmaking wizardry at the heart of the project.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Patients who had experienced six episodes or less demonstrated a reduced time to recurrence (p = 0.038) from the addition of psychoeducation to treatment.

Introduction Although NIV is effective in acute hypercapnic COPD-related respiratory failure, its efficacy in AE/OHS has been less demonstrated.

There is a high possibility that all sound variations more or less demonstrate some level of elaborate patterning due to their intertwined relationships with the language and the talker.

Anything less demonstrates that the lives of African girls are worth so little to the rest of us.

News & Media

Huffington Post

In fact, the documents CNN obtained more or less demonstrate that O'Keefe had little more than contempt for Boudreau, constantly deriding her intelligence and ability, referring to her as a "bubble-headed-bleach-blonde".

News & Media

Huffington Post

[T]he fact that this supposedly great adversary keeps making a menace of itself in bordering, former Soviet republics more or less demonstrates the opposite of what the revisionists think it proves.

News & Media

Huffington Post

This is particularly important as mutations in exon four in causing anti-mitotic drug resistance are less demonstrated when compared to exon 1, 2 and 3.

Science

Plosone

Those who recalled more than 8 items only showed off-line improvements over sleep, whereas those recalled 4-items or less demonstrated off-line improvements over both wake and sleep [9].

Science

Plosone

Nevertheless, the role of Bcl2 proteins in radiation-induced apoptosis of adult male germ cell is far less demonstrated, while some are known to be widely involved in genotoxic damage tissular response (i.e, Bax, Puma).

Science

Plosone
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more standard phrasing like "demonstrating less" or restructuring your sentence for better clarity. "Showing less", "indicating less" and "exhibiting less" are good alternatives too.

Common error

Avoid using "less demonstrating" as it is not a conventional or grammatically sound construction in English. Using it can confuse readers and weaken your message.

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 demonstrating" attempts to function as a gerund phrase, but this construction is grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI also points out that this usage is incorrect, because standard English prefers other structures.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less demonstrating" appears in various sources, it's not considered grammatically correct and can sound awkward. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is much better to use the phrase "demonstrating less" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity and grammatical soundness. Given its limited and questionable usage, alternatives such as "showing less", "indicating less", or "exhibiting less" are preferable, especially in formal and academic contexts. The majority of examples are in Science and News & Media, but even within these domains, clearer alternatives should be favored.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less demonstrating" for better clarity?

Consider alternatives such as "demonstrating less", "showing less", or "indicating less" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "less demonstrating" grammatically correct?

No, "less demonstrating" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "demonstrating less" or restructure the sentence.

What's the difference between "demonstrating less" and "less demonstrating"?

"Demonstrating less" is grammatically sound, placing emphasis on the act of demonstrating, but "less demonstrating" is an uncommon construction that can sound awkward.

Which phrases can replace "less demonstrating" in academic writing?

In academic writing, you can use phrases like "showing less evidence", "indicating less support", or "exhibiting less of a particular characteristic" for greater precision.

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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: