less indicative

USAGE SUMMARY

"less indicative" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when making a comparison between two things and wanting to state that one of them is less indicative or suggestive of a certain thing than the other. For example, "The results of the study show that this method is less indicative of success than the other one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

As such, an item like this may be less indicative of creativity or giftedness than it is an indication of how strongly a child adheres to cultural norms about how to be a "good student".

Asia-Pacific Science Education

Installment loans (autos, mortgages and student loans, for example) are less indicative of elevated credit risk, thus the small impact.

The New York Times

In the slower winter months, the adjusted numbers are considered less indicative of the market's true condition.

The New York Times

Julie Lasky also observes that Senators Clinton and Obama both freely borrow the "Got Milk?" slogan (Obama: "Got Hope?"; Hillary: "Got Experience?"), which is less indicative of their unoriginality than of the ubiquity of the milk campaign.

The New York Times

In this case, that should be less indicative of the character of the building than of its diversity: the other tenants are a Chinese real-estate company and Condé Nast, whose magazines include — proudly — The New Yorker.

The New Yorker

As more and more viewing of television shows is "time shifted" — that is, watched days after originally airing — traditional ratings are becoming less and less indicative of the overall popularity of a program, Bill Carter writes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

In addition, the generation of more foraging errors in structurally ambiguous call sequences (which were less strongly indicative of high or low preference foods) indicated that the information extracted from the stimuli sequences was influencing the foraging decisions of the receivers.

Plosone

Plus, isn't it possible that the paparazzo, stationed in a hedge 40 yards away with a telephoto lens, might have snapped a pose that was less than indicative?

The New York Times - Magazine

A value of 0.1 or less is indicative of acceptable model fit (Hu & Bentler 1999).

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Upon differentiation, aged NSC/NPCs differentiated into less neurons, indicative of reduced neurogenic potentials (Fig. 1F and 1G).

Protein & Cell

SRMR(Standardized Root Mean Residual) 0.03 < .08 Ranges from 0 to 1, with a value of.08 or less being indicative of an acceptable model.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two indicators, clearly state both and explain why one is "less indicative" than the other. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "less indicative" without providing context or rationale. Simply stating something is "less indicative" without explanation weakens your statement and leaves room for misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less indicative" primarily functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by expressing that it possesses a reduced capacity to indicate or suggest something, compared to another item or standard. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less indicative" serves as a comparative term to denote a weaker relationship between a sign or indicator and what it suggests. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and sees frequent use across diverse domains, including science, news media, and formal business settings. It is frequently employed to temper assumptions or emphasize limitations. When utilizing "less indicative", clarity and context are crucial; specify both indicators being compared and provide an explanation for the distinction in their strength. Related phrases, such as "less suggestive" or ""not as indicative"", offer alternative ways to express a similar meaning while slightly shifting the emphasis. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively integrate "less indicative" into your writing to convey nuance and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as indicative

Rephrases the comparison using "not as" for a slightly different emphasis.

less suggestive

Focuses on the aspect of suggestion rather than indication.

is a poorer sign

Uses "sign" instead of "indication" to convey the same meaning.

less revealing

Emphasizes the act of uncovering information to a lesser extent.

is a weaker signal

Similar to "is a poorer sign", but uses "signal" as the indicator.

less demonstrative

Highlights a reduced display or proof of something.

less symptomatic

Focuses on symptoms and how they may not point to a specific condition.

provides weaker evidence

Breaks down the phrase into its component parts, emphasizing the weakness of the evidence.

offers less insight

Focuses on the lack of understanding or perception provided.

less representative

Shifts the focus to how well something exemplifies a larger group.

FAQs

How can I use "less indicative" in a sentence?

You can use "less indicative" to compare the strength of two indicators, implying that one provides a weaker or less reliable sign. For instance, "While both methods show some correlation, the second method is "not as indicative" of long-term success."

What are some alternatives to "less indicative"?

Alternatives include phrases like "less suggestive", "less revealing", or ""not as indicative"", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "less indicative" in formal writing?

Yes, "less indicative" is appropriate for formal writing as long as it's used correctly to draw a comparison between two indicators. However, ensure the context is clear and the comparison is well-supported with evidence.

What's the difference between "less indicative" and "less conclusive"?

"Less indicative" implies that something is a weaker sign or signal, whereas "less conclusive" suggests that something doesn't definitively prove a point. Indicative points towards something, conclusive proves something.