less necessary to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less necessary to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is not as essential or required compared to something else. Example: "In this case, it is less necessary to provide detailed explanations than to focus on the main points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

It is less necessary to be clubbable.

The New York Times

That makes it far less necessary to have conventional power plants standing by to make up for drops in power.

MIT Technology Review

But Sean Sundwall, a company spokesman, said rewards are less necessary to find spammers, especially if they sell products.

The Washington Post

Making art, good art anyway, is something else that's difficult, and it's certainly rarer and no less necessary to the well-being of society.

The New York Times - Arts

Perhaps, in the age of endless ways to express yourself, it's also less necessary to define your identity in your teenage years by clinging to genres.

The Guardian - Music

"The world of today has drones too – that may render it less necessary to be there," chief justice Susan Kiefel quipped.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

But Kaplan concluded that several elements of life in the 21st century make it less necessary for people to move to find work.

Princeton University

Job growth, however, took a dip in June, expanding by barely 112,000, less than necessary to absorb the natural growth of the labor force.

The New York Times

At the hip, extension at initial contact decreased indicating less compensation necessary to achieve adequate step length.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

If end-diastolic flow is present in the ICA, it points out to an at least residual cerebral circulation, but this could potentially be still less than necessary to maintain brain function and integrity.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Meanwhile, retirement costs continue to grow — the state has paid $4.5 billion less than necessary to keep the teacher pension fund healthy, for example.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less necessary to", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is being compared to in terms of necessity. This helps to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "less necessary to" when "unnecessary" would be more accurate. "Less necessary" implies some need remains, while "unnecessary" means there is no need at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less necessary to" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that something is not as required or essential compared to something else. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less necessary to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used comparative phrase that indicates a reduced level of requirement or importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's versatile, appearing across news, science, and general writing, though more frequent in news sources. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly shows what's being compared. Consider alternative phrasings like "not as essential to" for increased formality or "unnecessary to" when no need exists at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as essential to

Uses "essential" in place of "necessary", highlighting the fundamental importance of something.

not as needed to

Uses "needed" instead of "necessary", emphasizing a lack of requirement or demand.

not as important to

Replaces "necessary" with "important", indicating a reduction in significance.

not as required to

Employs "required" instead of "necessary", focusing on a formal requirement or obligation.

not as crucial to

Replaces "necessary" with "crucial", emphasizing a slightly higher degree of importance.

not as vital to

Substitutes "necessary" with "vital", suggesting something that is essential for success or survival.

not as critical to

Replaces "necessary" with "critical", which suggests that something is extremely important or essential.

not quite as obligatory to

Substitutes "necessary" with "obligatory", suggesting less of a strict requirement.

not as compulsory to

Uses "compulsory" instead of "necessary", to suggest something required by law or a rule.

not as paramount to

Substitutes "necessary" with "paramount", to show that something is not of the highest importance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less necessary to" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "not as essential to", "not as crucial to", or "not as vital to". These alternatives maintain a similar meaning while elevating the formality of your language.

What's the difference between "less necessary to" and "unnecessary to"?

"Less necessary to" suggests that something is still somewhat needed but to a lesser degree. "Unnecessary to" implies that something is completely unneeded or superfluous.

When is it appropriate to use "less necessary to" in a sentence?

Use "less necessary to" when you want to indicate that the importance or requirement of something has diminished, usually in comparison to a previous state or another option.

Are there any contexts where using "less necessary to" might be confusing?

To avoid confusion, ensure that the context provides a clear comparison. For example, specify what has made something "less necessary to" do, or what alternative exists that reduces the need.