less dirty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less dirty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the cleanliness of two or more items, indicating that one is not as dirty as the other. Example: "After washing the car, it looks less dirty than it did before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Tour lives, perhaps less dirty.

The New York Times - Sports

Slightly less dirty coal is still coal.

The Guardian

It's scarcely less dirty, in places, than the events themselves.

Independent

Also, there will be less dirty washing when he gets home.

The Guardian - Music

Less dirty coal plants would help "improve emissions", according to Meintjes' slides.

The Guardian

Cap-and-dividend would set a price on carbon, thus giving Americans a powerful incentive to burn less dirty fuel.

The Economist

Mr. Gupta also said, "The ban on Gutka will make the road less dirty because the spitting will be less".

The New York Times

Thanks to fracking, gas is nearly as cheap an energy source as coal, but much less dirty.

The Economist

I think there's a lot less dirty games, and play isn't getting out of hand as much".

The New York Times - Sports

"People covered in mud don't like to see someone a little less dirty than themselves," Krichevskaya told me.

The New Yorker

It involves raising the price of carbon emissions, which are warming the planet, and then letting the private sector find innovative ways to use less dirty energy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the cleanliness of two items or situations, use "less dirty" to indicate a relative difference, not necessarily complete cleanliness. For example, "This method is less dirty than the previous one."

Common error

Avoid using "less dirty" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise terms like "cleaner", "more purified", or "less contaminated" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less dirty" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a reduced degree of dirtiness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and common in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less dirty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative adjective phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used to describe a relative state of cleanliness. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal or technical writing might benefit from more precise alternatives. Usage patterns show it's commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. When aiming for precision and formality, remember that context dictates the appropriateness of "less dirty" over alternatives such as "cleaner" or "less polluted".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cleaner

Indicates a higher degree of cleanliness, directly implying a reduction in dirtiness.

not as dirty

A more literal and straightforward way of expressing a lower degree of dirtiness.

relatively clean

Suggests a comparison to an expected level of cleanliness, implying it's cleaner than average.

somewhat cleaner

Indicates a slight improvement in cleanliness, a mild degree of dirt reduction.

less soiled

Replaces "dirty" with "soiled", which can sound slightly more formal and implies staining.

more purified

Suggests a process of removing impurities, often used in technical or scientific contexts.

less polluted

Specifically refers to a reduction in pollutants, focusing on environmental cleanliness.

more hygienic

Emphasizes health and sanitation aspects of cleanliness.

slightly cleaner

Highlights a minimal amount of improvement in terms of sanitation.

less unhygienic

A more formal way to express a reduction in unhygienic conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "less dirty" in a sentence?

"Less dirty" is used to compare the relative cleanliness of two things. For example, "The kitchen is "cleaner" now that I've mopped the floor; it's much "less dirty" than it was this morning."

What are some alternatives to "less dirty"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "cleaner", "not as dirty", or "more hygienic". The best choice depends on the specific situation and the degree of formality required.

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

"Less dirty" is correct because "dirty" is an adjective describing a state, not a countable noun. Use "fewer" with countable nouns.

Is "less dirty" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "less dirty" may sound informal in certain contexts. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "less soiled", "cleaner", or a more specific term related to the type of impurity you're describing.