less importance for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less importance for" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "less importance to" or "of lesser importance." Example: "This task holds less importance to our overall project goals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

For example, mortality is an important indicator in stroke care but is of less importance for chronic conditions with low excess mortality.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The integration with heat sinks proved to be most important to achieve high energy-efficiency, but it was of somewhat less importance for the profitability.

Applied Energy

Awlaki's operational role was of far less importance for al-Qaida or related groups than his activities as a communicator.

The Guardian

For one thing, the EU and Japan accepted the negotiations on agriculture only after loading the agenda with other issues of much less importance for developing countries and forcing an all-or-nothing approach for the conclusion of the talks.

The Economist

The D.C. quick charge system would be of less importance for the Chevy Volt – which can run on gasoline when its battery pack is low – than to the electric-only Spark, which has no gas engine as a back-up.

The New York Times

-7 AECL working on the DUPIC project is also of less importance for FG.

Environmental Systems Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

It may be of less importance, however, for transporters that are dynamically regulated by other mechanisms, for example for insulin-induced cell surface expression of GLUT4 (James et al. 1989).

Biophysics Reports

The message it sends out is that the human rights of Bahraini people is of less importance than profits for BAE Systems".

Independent

When one adopts this strategy comparisons between normal people and Down syndrome people are of less importance than looking for differences within the Down syndrome samples considering their level: mild, moderate, and heavy.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

In some cases parents may also simply attach less importance to acting for their children's good, and as a consequence, may not act in their child's best interest.

BMC Medical Ethics

The latter two are of less importance in performance evaluation for the novel foam.

Petroleum Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, substitute "for" with "to" in the phrase, using constructions like "of less importance to".

Common error

Avoid using "for" after "importance"; the correct preposition is typically "to". Using "for" can sound awkward or incorrect to native English speakers. Rather, rephrase to use "of less importance to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less importance for" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun by indicating a diminished level of significance or relevance. Ludwig indicates that while frequently used, it is grammatically questionable and should be used with caution.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

72%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less importance for" is frequently used, but Ludwig indicates it is grammatically incorrect in standard written English. A more appropriate phrase would be "less importance to" or "of lesser importance". While the phrase appears across various contexts, including scientific and news media, opting for grammatically correct alternatives will improve clarity and precision. Remember to consider context when choosing alternatives. Be mindful that, while frequent, its usage may detract from the perceived authority of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less important for

Uses the adjective "important" to convey the reduced level of significance.

lesser importance for

"Lesser" emphasizes the diminished degree of significance in a more formal tone.

smaller importance for

Replaces "less" with "smaller" indicating a reduced degree of importance.

of reduced importance to

Restructures the phrase to use "to" instead of "for", providing a grammatically sound alternative.

less emphasis for

Substitutes "importance" with "emphasis", shifting the focus slightly to the level of attention given.

less significance for

Uses "significance" instead of "importance", highlighting a reduced level of consequence or meaning.

less value for

Replaces "importance" with "value", focusing on the reduced worth or merit attributed.

of diminished relevance to

Emphasizes a decrease in pertinence or applicability, using "to" instead of "for" for grammatical correctness.

secondary importance for

Indicates that something is not the primary focus or concern.

least importance for

Highlights that something has the lowest level of importance compared to other factors.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less importance for" to be grammatically correct?

You can use alternatives like "of less importance to", "of less significance to", or "less important to" depending on the context.

Is "less importance for" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "less importance for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "less importance to" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

What's the difference between "less importance for" and "less importance to"?

"Less importance for" is grammatically questionable. "Less importance to" is the preferred phrasing when indicating that something has reduced significance or relevance.

When is it appropriate to use "less importance to" instead of "more importance to"?

Use "less importance to" when indicating that something has diminished significance or relevance in a particular situation. The opposite, "more importance to", should be used when something gains significance.