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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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less fraction of

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less fraction of" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would typically be "a smaller fraction of" or "a lesser fraction of." Example: "In this study, we found that a smaller fraction of participants reported experiencing side effects."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

However, the red phase of PVDF/PDA nanofibers indicated less fraction of β-phase than the blue phase.

Science

Polymer

In order to investigate the performance of co-digestion by adding a small part of CM, two VS-based regimes were designed and tested, i.e., 15 % CM plus 85 % banana stems and the second contained a higher amount of CM, i.e., 35%% and a less fraction of the banana stem (65 %) (see Fig. 1).

The recruited lung requires less fraction of inspired oxygen, less ventilating pressure, is less likely to develop pneumonia, has better surfactant function, and is less likely to develop ventilator associated lung injury compared to the unrecruited lung.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As shown in Fig. 6, the width of main peak of the objective function is enlarged when less fractions of the SC's output results are taken into account in the estimation.

However, during the prolonged observation (at month 15, month 21 and month 33 visits), significant less fractions of subjects from HIV/HCV dual infection or HIV/HCV/Toxoplasma triple infection progressed into AIDS stage defined as CD4+ T cells below 200 cells/µl (Fig. 2b).

Science

Plosone

In other words, with increasing steel fibers in the concrete mix, damage in the specimen decreases and the cyclic behavior is more stable in comparison with specimens without steel fibers or less volume fraction of steel fibers.   5.

Visa says the new technology will only require cardholders to insert their cards in the terminal for two seconds or less, a fraction of the time it takes now.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Besides the fluorescent chlorophyll catabolite Sw-FCC-62 (3), three more polar NCC fractions 4, 5 and 6 were observed, as was the less polar fraction of the YCC 7 (see Figure 1).

The slightly more polar, less abundant fraction of the NCC 6 was also identified provisionally as an NCC related to 4, based on its UV and mass spectra (see Figure 2 and Supporting Information Figure S1).

The overall results of this theoretical analysis suggested that thermal venting may be a powerful remediation technique that is applicable to the unsaturated zone when normal soil venting fails to recover the less-volatile fraction of the residual plume.

Iran's military hardware is less than a fraction of that of any of the countries in this region.

News & Media

The New Yorker
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "less fraction of" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "smaller proportion of" or "lesser amount of".

Common error

The term "less" is typically used with uncountable nouns. When referring to a portion of something countable, use "fewer". However, in most contexts, "smaller" is preferable to either. For example, instead of "less fraction of kernels", use "a smaller fraction of kernels".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less fraction of" functions as a determiner phrase intended to quantify a portion of a whole. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically questionable and should be avoided in formal contexts. Examples show its sporadic usage across various domains, but more appropriate alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less fraction of" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. It aims to express a smaller portion or quantity but should be replaced with more standard alternatives like "smaller fraction of", "lesser amount of", or "lower percentage of". These alternatives ensure grammatical correctness and clarity, particularly in formal and scientific contexts. Given the grammatical issues and the availability of better options, avoid using "less fraction of" in your writing.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "less fraction of"?

Consider using phrases like "smaller portion of", "lesser amount of", or "lower percentage of" as grammatically correct substitutes.

Is "less fraction of" grammatically correct?

No, "less fraction of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It is better to use phrases like "smaller fraction of" or "reduced fraction of".

How can I use "fraction" correctly in a sentence?

Use "fraction" to refer to a part of a whole. For example, "A significant fraction of the students passed the exam". Avoid using "less" with "fraction"; instead, use "smaller" or "greater" to compare fractions.

What's the difference between "less fraction of" and "smaller fraction of"?

The phrase "smaller fraction of" is grammatically correct, indicating a reduced portion, while "less fraction of" is typically considered incorrect. Use "smaller fraction of" for clarity and correctness.

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Most frequent sentences: