less difficult than

USAGE SUMMARY

"less difficult than" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to compare two things and indicate that one is easier than the other. For example, "Learning Spanish is less difficult than mastering German grammar."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

'Farming is in a way less difficult than factory life.

The Guardian

Counting cats is only slightly less difficult than herding them.

The New York Times - Science

It's all geared towards making the musical volte-face less difficult than it could be.

The Guardian - Music

In the short term, the solution may be less difficult than it first appears.

The Guardian - Opinion

Capturing this data is less difficult than it seems but requires a different way of thinking.

The Guardian

Iraq's large petroleum resources, its greatest asset, would make economic reconstruction less difficult than political transformation.

The New York Times

But after the first day, being there was less difficult than she expected.

The New York Times - Science

Peter D. Hart, a Democratic pollster, said finding the audience is less difficult than retooling the message.

The New York Times

But modern challenges for the centre-right will always be less difficult than they are for the left.

The Guardian

Reyes represents a glimpse into their future, which the Mets hope will be much less difficult than this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Turning them into college graduates should be a lot less difficult than fixing all of American education.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing tasks, ensure the "than" clause clearly defines what the subject is being compared to. For example, "Solving this puzzle is "less difficult than" completing the entire jigsaw."

Common error

Avoid using "less" when "fewer" is appropriate. "Less" is for uncountable nouns; for countable nouns, use "fewer". For example, instead of "less difficult tasks", use "fewer difficult tasks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less difficult than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by indicating that it possesses a lower degree of difficulty relative to something else. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less difficult than" is a common and grammatically sound way to express comparative ease. Ludwig's analysis, based on a wide range of sources, confirms its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. While alternatives like "easier than" or "simpler than" exist, each carries subtle nuances that may make it more appropriate depending on the specific situation. As Ludwig AI highlights, using "less difficult than" effectively requires attention to the grammatical context and clarity of comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

easier than

Direct synonym, indicating a lower level of difficulty.

simpler than

Focuses on reduced complexity as opposed to effort.

more straightforward than

Highlights the absence of complications.

less complicated than

Emphasizes a reduction in intricacy.

not as challenging as

Uses a negative construction to express lower difficulty.

a breeze compared to

Informal idiom indicating extreme ease.

more manageable than

Suggests easier handling or control.

less taxing than

Focuses on reduced strain or effort.

palatable compared to

Emphasizes a less offensive way as opposed to effort.

not as demanding as

Highlights a reduction in requirements or pressure.

FAQs

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

Use "less difficult than" to compare the relative ease of two tasks or activities. For example, "Taking the stairs is "less difficult than" running a marathon".

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

You can use alternatives such as "easier than", "simpler than", or "more straightforward than" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less hard than" instead of "less difficult than"?

While "less hard than" is understandable, "less difficult than" is generally preferred in formal writing. "Less difficult than" is more precise and widely accepted.

What's the difference between "less difficult than" and "not as difficult as"?

Both phrases convey a similar meaning, but "less difficult than" directly states the difference in difficulty, while "not as difficult as" is a negative comparison. The phrase "less difficult than" often has a more straightforward tone.