less minor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less minor" is not standard in written English and may be considered awkward or incorrect.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate something is not as minor as another thing, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "The issue is less minor than we initially thought, requiring more attention."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Among the relevant uncertainty sources, frequency resolution causes the biggest contribution to the total uncertainty especially at lower flowrates, and the uncertainty arose from the calibration system is less minor compared with uncertainties associated with the vortex frequency.

Measurement

Through the calculations of neutronics and neutronic/thermohydraulic (N-T) coupling, the results indicate that: the introduced two conceptual designs of breeding Th–U mixed fuel assemblies satisfy design rules of SCWR, while have the advantages on ideal breeding performance, less minor actinide generation and reactor safety.

Progress in Nuclear Energy

It is probably true that interest in football has declined in the Ivy League in the last 20 years or so, since the Ivy League was pushed from I-A and forced to accept a more or less minor league designation of I-AA.

The New York Times - Sports

In return you're promised returns on pace with the market — less minor costs.

BBC

Try for places like TJ Maxx and Ross, where you can get in-style clothes at cheap prices, often due to more or less minor defects.

WikiHow

Female doctors and GP specialists did less minor surgery, while rural doctors and RGPs did more.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The count of the allele occurring less frequently (minor allele) was divided by the total number of alleles, giving the population wide frequency of minor alleles per locus (minor allele frequency, MAF).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The police need to spend more time tracking down serious crime and less on minor offenses.

The New York Times

As ticket prices for major league games escalated, attendance at less expensive minor league games rose apace.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You will get less sleep, minor skin ailments, your boss will be moaning about your work and your relationship will suffer.

The Guardian - Sport

A much less abundant minor spliceosome removes 1/300 introns from human pre-mRNAs by recognizing slightly different sequences near the ends of these introns.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "less minor" with more precise descriptors such as "somewhat significant" or "not entirely negligible". This enhances readability and avoids potential ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "less minor" in academic papers or professional reports. Opt for terms like "moderately important" or "slightly relevant" to maintain a formal tone and ensure clear communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less minor" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to modify a noun by indicating a degree of importance that is above 'minor' but not necessarily 'major'. Ludwig AI suggests this phrase is not standard, recommending clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less minor" attempts to express a degree of significance above what is considered unimportant, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not standard and can be grammatically awkward. Its function is to modify nouns by indicating their relative importance. The phrase appears mostly in scientific and news contexts and is rated as "Incorrect" grammatically. To enhance clarity and precision, it is advisable to use alternatives such as ""not as significant"", ""somewhat important"", or ""moderately relevant"", especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as significant

Emphasizes a comparative lack of significance.

relatively insignificant

Highlights a lower level of importance in comparison to something else.

not as trivial

Focuses on the absence of triviality or pettiness.

somewhat important

Indicates a moderate degree of importance.

moderately consequential

Implies a noticeable but not overwhelming impact.

slightly more significant

Indicates a marginal increase in importance.

of some importance

Suggests a certain level of relevance or value.

a bit more crucial

Highlights a slight elevation in critical importance.

not entirely negligible

Indicates that something cannot be completely disregarded.

marginally relevant

Suggests minimal but present pertinence.

FAQs

Is "less minor" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "less minor" is considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use phrases like "not as significant", "somewhat important", or "moderately relevant" for improved clarity.

What does "less minor" mean?

"Less minor" attempts to indicate something is more important than what is considered minor. However, direct and clearer alternatives such as "more significant" or "relatively important" are preferred to avoid ambiguity.

How can I use "less minor" correctly?

Although "less minor" isn't ideal, you might use it when contrasting two things, indicating one is not as unimportant as the other. Still, consider replacing it with a clearer comparison, such as "the issue is "more pressing" than initially believed".

What are some alternatives to "less minor"?

Instead of "less minor", consider using phrases like "not as trivial", "somewhat significant", or "moderately consequential". These options provide greater precision and clarity.