less less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less less than" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of comparative forms and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "The cost of the project is less less than what we initially estimated."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Anything less, less than perfect, and you risk a meltdown — the shakes, the dry mouth, the ruminations that become recriminations that become insomnia.

The New York Times

Is it the "10,000" jobs that government ministers say will come from the project (remembering that Adani's own consultant has said that those numbers were vastly overblown and that Carmichael would result in less less than 1500 jobs).

The Guardian

That means that 1,749 privately owned apartments in the city are affordable for a four-person household with an annual income of $66,180 or less — less than 6percentt of the rental housing stock.

The Washington Post

By this they mean hidden pockets of poverty and deprivation as bad as anything in the towns: in the Cotswolds a third of the population has a post-tax income of £7,000 or less, less than half the national average.

The Economist

Blood in the streets of Chicago, for the Democratic national convention, no less, less than three months after that.

Huffington Post

Residents of Seattle earn a median household income of $67,365, which is $4,727 less less than the income needed to cover necessities, savings and additional expenses.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"If you are old and have a job, you are less likely — albeit less less likely than in the old days — to be fired," Dr. Munnell said.

The New York Times

Ignoring the individual humanity of another allows him to treat them as less: less deserving, less important, less than himself.

Huffington Post

"A less-than-satisfactory and less-than-effective approach".

The New York Times

Less than 10? Less than five?

The New York Times

It's less than the UK, less than Germany, way less than the US".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "less less than" in your writing. Opt for the grammatically correct "less than" or rephrase the sentence to improve clarity and avoid redundancy.

Common error

Don't repeat comparative adjectives. Saying "less less than" is like saying "more more than". Choose a single, clear comparative like "less than" or find a different way to express the comparison to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less less than" is primarily intended to function as a comparative, aiming to indicate a smaller quantity or degree. However, the repetition of "less" renders the phrase grammatically incorrect and confusing. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

0.4%

Science

0.4%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less less than" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. While it appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect, due to the redundant comparison. Better alternatives include using "less than", or rephrasing the sentence to improve clarity. Its infrequent occurrence and grammatical issues make it unsuitable for professional or academic use. Always opt for precision and clarity in your writing to avoid confusion and maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as much as

Rephrases the comparison to avoid the double "less", focusing on quantity.

smaller than

Uses a different adjective to express a lower quantity or degree.

lower than

Employs a different adjective focusing on position or level to indicate a lesser value.

fewer than

Specifically used for countable items, offering a more precise comparison.

a smaller proportion than

Focuses on comparative portions and offers a statistically and numerically comparable sentence.

to a lesser extent than

Adds formality and precision to the comparison, suitable for academic contexts.

a reduced amount compared to

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the reduced quantity, emphasizing the difference from a point of reference.

inferior to

Indicates a lower quality or status, shifting the focus from quantity to value.

somewhat less than

Uses an adverb to modify the degree of difference, adding nuance.

not quite as

Offers a less direct comparison, emphasizing a slight difference.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "less less than"?

No, the phrase "less less than" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "less than". The repetition of "less" creates a redundant comparison.

What does "less than" mean?

The phrase "less than" indicates that one quantity or value is smaller or lower than another. For example, "The cost was "less than $100"" means the cost was below $100.

How can I avoid using "less less than" in my writing?

To avoid this redundant phrase, simply use "less than". If the sentence still feels awkward, consider rephrasing it altogether. For instance, instead of "The impact was less less than expected", try "The impact was "lower than expected"".

Are there situations where repeating "less" is acceptable?

While repeating "less" might occur in informal speech for emphasis (e.g., "I want less, less stuff"), it's best to avoid such constructions in formal writing. Focus on clarity and precision. In the phrase "less less than", the repetition is considered a grammatical error. Instead, consider using "not as much as" or another alternative.