less of a task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less of a task" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a particular task is easier or requires less effort compared to another task. Example: "Compared to the last project, this one feels like less of a task, which is a relief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Applying for aid will become less of a task as well.

Huffington Post

I've tried doing this with my own family, and it makes it seem like less of a "task".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Revision can be tedious and stressful, so why not add a bit of music to make is less of a menial task?

Independent

But even if the army proves to be less of a problem, her task is a huge one.

The Guardian - Opinion

As measured by the employed task switching paradigm, our ADHD sample apparently had much less of a problem holding task-sets online in MB vs. PRB contexts than flexibly switching between two task-sets.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Thus, the young women's experience of being addressed as less skilled or naturally less capable of performing a task without the help of male colleagues discriminates against women as 'second class' professionals or segregates them to particular tasks within the field.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Sometimes we do more, and sometimes we do less of a given set of tasks or functions.

Huffington Post

Nonetheless, the findings, reported last year in the journal Psychological Science, show that when you think of a task in less abstract terms you can get a handle on it and finish it sooner.

The New York Times

In the process of task decomposition, a threshold is defined for the scale of subtasks to determine whether the current subtask needs to be further split, i.e., when the scale of a task is less than or equal to the threshold, division of that task is stopped.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

By allocating the scenarios in this way, less variation occurs between the scenarios of a task.

BMJ Open

This problem is much less of a concern for the auditory tasks, since we do not expect visual cortex to play a major role in those.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less of a task" to emphasize a welcome decrease in the difficulty or complexity of something, creating a sense of relief or improved manageability.

Common error

Avoid using "less of a task" when you actually mean the task is completely eliminated or unnecessary. This phrase implies a reduction in effort, not an absence of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less of a task" functions as a modifier to describe a particular activity or endeavor. It typically implies that the activity requires reduced effort or complexity compared to a previous state or another comparable activity. Ludwig shows several examples where it clearly qualifies the word task.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less of a task" is a phrase used to describe an activity that has become easier or requires reduced effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is relatively rare, it appears in both news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. When using the phrase, remember to imply a reduction in effort rather than an absence of it, and consider alternatives like "easier endeavor" or "simpler undertaking" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

easier endeavor

Emphasizes the reduced difficulty of the undertaking.

simpler undertaking

Focuses on the reduced complexity involved.

lighter burden

Highlights the reduced strain or pressure associated with the task.

less challenging activity

Specifically points out the diminished level of challenge.

more manageable assignment

Suggests an increased sense of control and feasibility.

less demanding chore

Highlights the reduced rigor of the activity.

easier job

Simple and direct alternative implying reduced difficulty.

reduced effort

Focuses on the lessened amount of exertion required.

less strenuous effort

Stresses the reduced physical or mental exertion involved.

more straightforward activity

Highlights the relative simplicity of the required actions.

FAQs

How can I use "less of a task" in a sentence?

You can use "less of a task" to describe something that has become easier or requires less effort than it did previously. For example, "Now that we have new software, data analysis is "less of a task" than it used to be."

What's a good substitute for "less of a task"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "easier endeavor", "simpler undertaking", or "lighter burden" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less of a task"?

Yes, "less of a task" is grammatically correct. It correctly uses "less" to refer to a non-countable noun (the overall effort involved in a task) and is a common idiom in English.

What is the difference between "less of a task" and "not a task"?

"Less of a task" implies that something still requires effort, but reduced effort, whereas "not a task" means something requires no effort at all because it's unnecessary. For instance, "With automation, the reporting is "less of a task"", but "Since we reorganized, that meeting is "not a task" anymore".