less dirty than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less dirty than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when making a comparative statement about the cleanliness of two or more items or situations. Example: "This shirt is less dirty than the one I wore yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The cows on the wood chip pad were less dirty than cows on the other surfaces.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

It was fun and a lot less dirty than last week!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

The New Yorker

You'll notice that some of the windows are less dirty than others - that's because I had to replace them when the crow smashed into them.

The Guardian - Music

Helping those who were living proof that money does not happiness make, the ones struggling to cope with their parents' divorce, excluded and facing depression, or those who couldn't speak without spluttering into a vast, gutteral chasm, made tutoring feel, if not as moral as curing cancer, then at least something marginally less dirty than selling arms to Bahrain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pages which contained the prayers for the salvation of others were less dirty than those asking for salvation for oneself.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But the Hollywood star turned out to be less Dirty Harry than somebody's "drunk uncle Harry", as one Twitter contributor called him.

The Guardian - Film

However, I definitely get a lot less dirty looks than I did when I lived in France.

Vice

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

Independent

Industry executives have said in recent years that modern diesel engines are far less dirty and noisy than those of the 1970's and offer a relatively easy way to improve fuel economy and reduce global-warming emissions.

The New York Times

Part of the reason is that modern technology enables production to be carried out in ways that are less dirty and less noisy than they used to be, but another factor is that more industrial companies are seeking prime highway locations, even though such sites may cost more.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the cleanliness of items, ensure the comparison is clear and specific. For example, instead of saying "This room is "less dirty than" that one", specify what makes the room less dirty, such as "This room has fewer dust particles and no visible stains, making it "less dirty than" the other room".

Common error

Avoid using "less dirty than" when you actually mean "cleaner". "Less dirty" implies a small difference in an item's cleanliness, while "cleaner" suggests a more significant improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less dirty than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something by comparing its level of dirtiness to something else. Ludwig confirms the phrase's validity through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

29%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less dirty than" is a grammatically correct and usable comparative adjective phrase, employed to indicate that something is not as dirty as something else. Ludwig AI analysis validates its usage across a variety of sources, as confirmed by Ludwig. While "cleaner than" offers a more positive spin, "less dirty than" suggests a smaller margin of improvement. Ludwig examples are extracted from reputable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Forbes, exhibiting its versatility in both news and scientific contexts. Related phrases, like "not as dirty as" or "comparatively cleaner than", provide alternative ways to express this comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as dirty as

Uses a different construction to convey the same comparison of dirtiness.

cleaner than

Expresses the comparison from the perspective of cleanliness rather than dirtiness.

not as soiled as

Replaces "dirty" with "soiled", offering a slightly more formal tone.

more clean than dirty

Emphasizes the presence of cleanliness relative to dirtiness.

relatively clean compared to

Highlights the relative cleanliness in comparison to something else.

somewhat cleaner than

Indicates a slight difference in cleanliness.

paler than

Uses an analogy comparing something to colours instead of direct dirtiness, implying less dirt is present.

comparatively unblemished

Focuses on the lack of blemishes as an indicator of cleanliness.

more purified than

Implies a process of purification resulting in less dirt.

fresher than

Suggests a sense of cleanliness through freshness.

FAQs

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

You can use "less dirty than" to compare the relative cleanliness of two items or situations. For example, "The kitchen floor is "less dirty than" the bathroom floor after the kids' bath time".

What's a more formal alternative to "less dirty than"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "not as soiled as" or "comparatively cleaner than". For instance, instead of saying the exhibit was "less dirty than" expected, you might say it was "not as soiled as anticipated".

Is it grammatically correct to say "less dirty than"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Less" is used to form the comparative of adjectives and adverbs that do not take the -er suffix, and "dirty" is one such adjective. Using "less dirty than" is perfectly acceptable for comparing two items' cleanliness.

What's the difference between "less dirty than" and "cleaner than"?

"Less dirty than" implies a smaller degree of difference in cleanliness, suggesting that both items are still somewhat dirty. "Cleaner than", on the other hand, implies that one item is significantly more clean than the other. Therefore, using "cleaner than" is more appropriate when the difference in cleanliness is substantial.