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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
less greater than
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "less greater than" is not a grammatically correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
A better way to express this concept would be "less than" or "smaller than." However, in some mathematical or scientific contexts, the phrase "less greater than" could be used to indicate a quantity that is less than another, but still greater than a certain threshold. For example: - The temperature must be less greater than 40 degrees Celsius for the experiment to be successful.
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(20)
less dear than
less harsh than
less longer than
a fraction of
lower than
less faster than
less than
less hard than
less less than
less detailed than
less worse than
less however than
less challenging than
less more than
at least
not as much as
slightly greater than
not quite as difficult as
least harder than
no more than
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
10 human-written examples
The effect would thus change from positive (negative) to negative (positive) if excess cash is less (greater) than 0.047.
Science
Furthermore, (E[m_i^*]) greater (less) than one is equivalent with the risk-free rate (r_mathrm{f}^*) being less (greater) than zero.
Science
Furthermore, (E[m_i^*]) greater (less) than 1 is equivalent with the after-tax risk-free rate (r_mathrm{f}^{*tau }) being less (greater) than zero.
Science
Thus, similar to the work of Smith and Subandoro (2007), we consider a household as food insecure (food secure) if their DDS is less (greater) than the average DDS of the households in the upper quartile.
When the value is less (greater) than one, then there is an under representation (over representation) of N-mt genes on a chromosome.
Science
Interestingly, adhesion of cancer cells to THOC5 KO liver slices was far less (greater than 80% reduction) than to wild-type liver slices.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
48 human-written examples
The moral advantages of such a holiday are scarcely less great than the physical.
News & Media
Inequality, bigotries and twitchiness make Britain look and feel less great than it could be.
News & Media
A Britain less great than it is would go against the very logic of those who want an exit.
News & Media
(Others research, however, suggests that their effect on Haredis, for example, is less great than was once thought).
News & Media
Sometimes it's a divide that seems no less great than the one we've witnessed for way too many years now.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When intending to express a value that falls within a specific range, ensure that you clearly articulate both the lower and upper bounds using appropriate comparison operators (e.g., "greater than" and "less than") separately.
Common error
Avoid using the phrase "less greater than" as it is grammatically incorrect and may confuse your readers. Clarify the range by stating it correctly: "greater than X but less than Y".
Source & Trust
76%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "less greater than" attempts to perform a comparative function. However, it fails to do so effectively due to its ungrammatical structure, as noted by Ludwig AI. Proper comparative structures should be used instead.
Frequent in
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "less greater than" is grammatically incorrect and lacks established usage in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it's not a recognized comparative structure. For clarity and correctness, replace it with appropriate alternatives such as "less than", "smaller than", or "greater than X but less than Y" to properly convey the intended comparison. Avoid using "less greater than" in any formal or informal writing to prevent confusion and maintain grammatical accuracy.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
lower than
Directly indicates a lower position on a scale or ranking.
less than
Indicates a lower quantity or degree, without specifying a higher limit.
under
A concise way of saying "less than", primarily referring to numerical values.
smaller than
Focuses on size or magnitude rather than a broader sense of quantity or degree.
no more than
Similar to "not exceeding", it specifies a maximum value.
not as much as
Emphasizes the quantity difference between two items.
not exceeding
Emphasizes an upper limit, useful when discussing maximum values.
below a certain threshold
Highlights the concept of being under a defined limit or standard.
inferior to
Highlights a lower quality or status in comparison.
a fraction of
Suggests a smaller portion or percentage compared to a whole.
FAQs
Is "less greater than" grammatically correct?
No, the phrase "less greater than" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's an incorrect combination of comparative terms. Use phrases like "less than" or "smaller than" instead.
What is the correct way to express that a value should be within a particular range?
To specify a range, use "greater than" for the lower limit and "less than" for the upper limit. For example, "greater than 5 but less than 10" indicates a value between 5 and 10.
Can I use "less greater than" in technical writing?
While it might be tempting to use a shorthand, "less greater than" is generally discouraged in technical writing. Clarity is paramount; use correct and unambiguous expressions such as "greater than but less than".
Are there alternative ways to express a minimum threshold?
Yes, instead of trying to adapt the incorrect phrase, consider alternatives like "at least", "a minimum of", or "no less than" to indicate a minimum threshold for a value.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
76%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested