less excellent than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less excellent than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the quality of two things, indicating that one is not as excellent as the other. Example: "The service at the new restaurant is less excellent than what we experienced at the old one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

From these sensible observations concerning what would be right or wrong for humans to do in producing offspring, Adams infers that God would not be doing something wrong in bringing into existence humans who are less excellent than he could have brought into existence.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Citing the excellent things in "Umbrella" is easier than citing the less excellent.

The New York Times - Books

Our talking became less excellent.

The New Yorker

Data quality in surveys and censuses can be improved by demanding nothing less than excellent fieldworker training and excellent quality control measures in the field.

Global Health Action

Deputy head Mike Humphreys notes that Quinn will not accept standards that are less than excellent.

The Guardian

Arguably their player of the autumn tour and rarely less than excellent for his club.

The Guardian - Sport

The writing, never less than excellent, takes many tones throughout the 28 stories, some showy, some not.

The Guardian - Books

Julien Bonnaire Flanker - 7 The quietest of France's fabled back row, but never less than excellent.

The Guardian - Sport

However, the music itself is never less than excellent, despite it all clearly being knocked out in about ten minutes.

The Guardian - Music

Similarly smart, bursting with credibility and, yes, a woman, is Cerys Matthews, whose Sunday show is rarely less than excellent.

Independent

"The new age required nothing less than excellent design for everyone; quality and mass production were not mutually exclusive," Duncan writes.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less excellent than", ensure the comparison is clear and specific. State what is being compared and why it is "less excellent". For example, "The sequel was less excellent than the original due to its weaker plot."

Common error

Avoid using too many variations of "excellent" in close proximity. Phrases like "less excellent than", "more excellent than", and "not excellent" can become repetitive. Instead, vary your vocabulary with alternatives like "better", "worse", "superior", or "inferior".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less excellent than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It indicates that one entity possesses a lower degree of excellence compared to another. Ludwig confirms this, showing the phrase being used to draw comparisons between the qualities of different entities.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less excellent than" serves as a comparative tool to express that one entity is of a lower quality or standard than another. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and provides examples spanning from science to media contexts. Although "less excellent than" is a functional comparison, alternatives such as "not as good as" or "inferior to" may offer more direct or common phrasing. The phrase's use tends to be neutral, fitting various writing styles, yet writers should ensure clarity and avoid overuse of "excellent" variations to maintain engaging and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as good as

Directly indicates a lower quality without explicitly using "excellent".

inferior to

Emphasizes the lower rank or quality of one thing compared to another.

subpar to

Uses "subpar" to describe something below the expected standard, offering a slightly more informal tone.

of a lower standard than

Formal alternative emphasizing the level of quality.

not up to par with

Idiomatic expression indicating something doesn't meet expectations.

deficient in comparison to

Highlights the lack of something when compared.

lacking the excellence of

Focuses specifically on the absence of excellence.

falls short of

Indicates failure to reach a particular standard of excellence.

not quite as superb as

Uses "superb" as a synonym for excellent, softening the comparison.

second-rate compared to

Indicates that something is of a lower grade or quality.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "less excellent than"?

You can use alternatives like "not as good as", "inferior to", or "subpar to" depending on the context.

How do I use "less excellent than" in a sentence?

The phrase "less excellent than" is used to compare two things, indicating that one is not as good as the other. For example, "The new model is less excellent than the previous one."

Is "less excellent than" formal or informal?

"Less excellent than" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more direct alternatives like "not as good as" might be preferred in casual conversation.

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

"Less excellent than" and "not as excellent as" are nearly identical in meaning. The former is slightly more concise, while the latter is arguably more common in everyday speech.