less improper

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less improper" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the degree of impropriety of two or more actions or behaviors, indicating that one is not as improper as the other. Example: "While both comments were inappropriate, I found his response to be less improper than hers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Fowler defines "genteelism" as "the substituting, for the ordinary natural word that first suggests itself to the mind, of a synonym that is thought to be less soiled by the lips of the common herd, less familiar, less plebian, less vulgar, less improper, less apt to come unhandsomely betwixt the wind & our nobility".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They have good reason to believe that under the amended ADA, courts will view less favorably any improper treatment of a severely obese employee or applicant whose weight substantially limits a major life activity.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

In addition to nanoparticle approaches, lack of improper less selective and sensitive method of quantification makes it difficult to measure DOX concentration in any biological samples, following oral administration.

Chemistry Central Journal

The office seized the $1.9 billion-asset institution in late July, saying it had become insolvent because of high-risk lending to less creditworthy borrowers and improper accounting for the loans it bundled and sold to investors.

The New York Times

Specialized nurses were 31% less likely to assign improper ESI levels.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Landfills are designed to dispose high quantities of waste at economical costs with potentially less environmental effects; however, improper landfill management may pose serious environmental threats through discharge of high strength polluted wastewater also known as leachate.

Arabian Journal of Chemistry

The same officer reported another improper detention less than two weeks later, notifying Champion's staff in a memo that reflected his exasperation.

Los Angeles Times

However, a 24 h urine collection, which is time consuming, cumbersome and improper, is less preferred than spot urine sample collection for biological monitoring of exposure in large population groups.

BMJ Open

American officials have said the subsidies found to be improper amounted to less than $5 billion.

The New York Times

"We are trying to work on that as well without preventing our ability to help people," Mr. Fugate said, adding that internal reviews showed that improper payments represented less than 1 percent of the money paid to individuals and households.

The New York Times

Just days after Sullivan took the helm, AIG admitted to past "improper accounting," and less than a year later, Sullivan agreed to a $1.6 billion settlement with state and federal regulators, effectively ruling out corporate criminal charges.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to soften criticism, use "less improper" to acknowledge an issue while suggesting it's not as severe as it could be. For example, instead of saying "the action was improper", you could say "the action was less improper than expected".

Common error

Avoid using "less improper" when describing something that is entirely proper or ethical. The phrase implies there is still some degree of impropriety present, even if it's reduced. If something is fully compliant or ethical, describe it as "proper", "ethical", or "appropriate" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less improper" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a reduced degree of impropriety. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It serves to soften criticism by acknowledging an issue while suggesting it's not as severe as it could be.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less improper" is a grammatically sound way to express a reduced degree of inappropriateness, as validated by Ludwig AI. Though relatively rare in usage, it serves the purpose of softening criticism or comparison by acknowledging an issue without portraying it in the most severe light. It is important to remember, as discussed above, that it is not interchangeable with terms such as "proper", as it still implies there's a degree of impropriety present. Common contexts for this phrase include news reporting and scientific discussions, indicating a neutral register. For alternatives, consider phrases like "more acceptable" or "less inappropriate" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less inappropriate

A direct synonym, simply negating the stronger term 'inappropriate' to convey a slightly weaker level of unsuitability.

more acceptable

Changes the focus from impropriety to acceptability, implying a movement towards what is considered suitable.

more suitable

Shifts the perspective to suitability, suggesting an improved but not necessarily perfect fit.

partially appropriate

Indicates that only a portion of something is appropriate, suggesting limitations or exceptions.

relatively proper

Highlights the aspect of being 'proper' to a certain degree, suggesting adherence to rules or standards in a qualified way.

less offensive

Focuses on reducing the level of offensiveness, implying that the original action was still somewhat objectionable.

somewhat correct

Emphasizes a degree of correctness, moving away from the notion of impropriety and toward accuracy or rightness.

marginally ethical

Suggests that something barely meets the minimum standards of ethical behavior, implying a potential for impropriety.

slightly better

A general comparison indicating an improvement, without specifying the area of improvement which could be relevant to appropriateness.

not as bad

A simple comparison that suggests something is less negative than another, generally used informally.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "less improper"?

Use "less improper" when you want to suggest that an action or behavior is not as inappropriate or unethical as another, but still carries some degree of impropriety. It acknowledges the issue while softening the criticism.

What are some alternatives to saying "less improper"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "more acceptable", "less inappropriate", or "relatively proper" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

Is "less improper" grammatically correct?

Yes, "less improper" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard comparative structure of using "less" with an adjective to indicate a lower degree of that adjective's quality.

How does the phrase "less improper" differ from "not improper"?

"Less improper" implies there's still a degree of impropriety present, just to a smaller extent. "Not improper", on the other hand, suggests that there's no impropriety at all and that the action is completely acceptable.