less next time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less next time" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to suggest a reduction in quantity or frequency for a future occasion, but the word "less" should be replaced with "fewer" when referring to countable items. Example: "I hope you will bring fewer snacks next time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"This time if there are less, next time there will be more.

The New York Times

If they are unable to finish their portions, give them less next time.

Huffington Post

How about buying 25percentt less (or even 10percentt less) next time you shop and seeing how it goes.

Huffington Post

You can use more or less next time if you prefer a different length.

WikiHow

9 times out of 10, you are going to land on your feet...just go a little slower or pump into the ramp a little less next time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They may be less lucky next time.

The Economist

A little less 'attitude' next time, perhaps.

The Guardian - Sport

The same thing happened, more or less, the next time Dickey faced the Yankees.

The New York Times

"People aren't going to eat any more, they just buy less the next time".

The New York Times

If he said the weekly bath didn't have enough water, he would get less water next time.

Independent

But the normal response to slushy rice would be, "Gee, maybe I need to use less water next time".

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing to "not as much next time" if you are unsure whether the item is countable or uncountable. This avoids the grammatical error altogether.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable items. "Less" is appropriate for uncountable nouns. For example, instead of saying "less apples next time", say "fewer apples".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less next time" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a desired reduction or decrease in a future instance. While grammatically questionable, it serves to express a corrective action or intention for a subsequent event. Ludwig suggests that a better alternative when referring to countable items is "fewer next time".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less next time" is used in various contexts, including news and wiki sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English when referring to countable nouns. The intended meaning is to suggest a reduction in quantity or frequency for a future occasion. It's recommended to use grammatically correct alternatives like "fewer next time" for countable items or "not as much next time" for uncountable items to ensure clarity and accuracy. Ludwig recommends that to avoid the error, you can also rephrase your message with more explicit constructions using verbs like reduce or decrease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer next time

Replaces "less" with "fewer", correcting the grammatical error when referring to countable items.

use a bit less next time

Specifies using a smaller amount of something.

not as much next time

Uses "not as much" to express a reduction in quantity in the future.

try a smaller quantity next time

Suggests experimenting with a smaller quantity.

reduce it next time

Emphasizes the act of reducing something in the future.

decrease the amount next time

More formal, specifically referring to decreasing an amount.

lower quantity next time

Focuses on lowering the numerical quantity.

diminish it next time

Uses a more sophisticated verb to imply reduction.

have a smaller portion next time

Specifically addresses reducing the size of a serving or portion.

cut back next time

Implies a reduction in consumption or use.

FAQs

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

"Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., apples, people). Therefore, use "fewer next time" when referring to countable items and "not as much next time" for uncountable items.

Is "less next time" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, "less next time" is generally considered incorrect when referring to countable items. Use "fewer next time" instead.

What are some alternatives to "less next time"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "fewer next time", "not as much next time", or "reduce it next time".

How can I remember the difference between "less" and "fewer"?

Think of "fewer" as relating to things you can count individually (like fingers), and "less" as relating to a mass or quantity you can't easily count (like water). If you're talking about something you can count, use "fewer".