less likes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less likes" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to express a lower quantity of likes, but the correct form would be "fewer likes." Example: "The post received fewer likes than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Social Media

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If the tweet gets an alarming number of replies and significantly less likes and retweets, you done fucked up.

Vice

I may have less likes on my Facebook profile picture than the girl I was just creeping on, but guess what?

Huffington Post

Inside jokes might work here too, but be careful: the more "inside" the joke is, the less likes you'll get.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Look less like Wallace.

BBC

buyers look less like suckers.

The New York Times

Less like a squatter".

The New York Times

Davis couldn't be less like Herring.

The New Yorker

Mallory couldn't be less like Derek Strange.

The New York Times - Books

(Still, it seems less like prizefighting).

The New Yorker

He was less like a cop.

The New Yorker

Look less like Wallace [from Wallace & Gromit].

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to countable items like likes, always use "fewer" instead of "less". For example, say "fewer likes" not "less likes".

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable nouns. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., fewer likes, fewer apples).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less likes" functions as a descriptive element, aiming to quantify the number of positive reactions, particularly on social media platforms. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "fewer likes."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Social Media

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less likes" is used to describe a smaller quantity of positive reactions or engagement, it's grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct phrase is "fewer likes" because "likes" are countable. The phrase appears mostly in informal contexts such as social media and news articles. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's best to use "fewer likes" or alternatives like "not as many likes" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer likes

Corrects the grammatical error by using "fewer" instead of "less" for countable nouns.

not as many likes

Employs a different structure to indicate a smaller quantity of likes.

lower number of likes

Rephrases the concept using more explicit quantitative terms.

reduced popularity

Shifts the focus from the specific metric of 'likes' to the broader idea of reduced interest.

less favored

Uses a different term to indicate that something is not as well-received.

didn't resonate as well

Focuses on the lack of positive response or connection with the audience.

less engagement

Indicates a lower level of interaction or participation.

not as well-received

Highlights the negative reception of something.

diminished interest

Emphasizes the reduced level of attention or enthusiasm.

not widely appreciated

Implies that something did not gain broad recognition or approval.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "less likes"?

The correct way to phrase this is to use "fewer likes". "Fewer" is used for countable nouns, while "less" is used for uncountable nouns.

When should I use 'less' versus 'fewer'?

"Less" should be used with uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less effort), while "fewer" should be used with countable nouns (e.g., fewer likes, fewer people).

What's a good alternative to using "less likes"?

Instead of "less likes", you can say "fewer likes" or "not as many likes". Both options are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning.

Is "less likes" ever considered acceptable in informal contexts?

While "less likes" might be used in very informal speech, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Sticking to "fewer likes" ensures clarity and correctness in most situations.