less of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less of time" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when one intends to express a smaller amount of time, but the correct phrase would be "less time." Example: "I need less time to complete this task than I initially thought."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

On both channels the SNP accounted for 2.5% or less of time given to party sources speaking.

The Guardian

How every stint feels less of time away and more of time at home.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It has had such an impact on me as a member of my family, in terms of feeling less cheated of time and less cheated of relaxation," she said.

The New York Times

We began with a 5-point frequency scale (1 '10% or less of the time' to 5'almost100%0% of the time').

BMC Health Services Research

Other drivers – most of whom worked significantly less amounts of time – would receive an average of $53.02.

The Guardian - Tech

Use of single date imagery generally involves less expenditure of time and costs related to data acquisition and processing.

Journal of Arid Environments

The less amount of time spent trying to bob and weave through others' opinions the better.

Huffington Post

That's three less weeks of time he'll need to stay in the NICU.

Huffington Post

Afterward, they reported stronger feelings of awe, less sense of time pressure, and greater willingness to volunteer their time to help a charity.

Huffington Post

The younger you get sober, the less amount of time you had to ruin things -- relationships, health, even material items.

Huffington Post

People are much less aware of time here and locals have a very relaxed attitude about it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "less of time" with the simpler and more standard phrase "less time". This ensures your writing is easily understood and avoids potential grammatical critiques.

Common error

Avoid using "less of time" when you mean "less time". The inclusion of "of" is often unnecessary and makes the phrase sound awkward. Opt for "less time" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness. For example, say "I need less time to finish this" instead of "I need less of time to finish this".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less of time" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied noun. It aims to express a smaller quantity of time, although, according to Ludwig AI, this is grammatically questionable. Examples show its usage in diverse contexts, but it remains less conventional than "less time."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less of time" is encountered in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as not correct in standard written English. As the examples show, the phrase is used to express a smaller duration or reduced commitment of time. However, standard grammar suggests using the simpler "less time" as a clearer and more accurate alternative. Its use is most common in news and media contexts, with limited presence in more formal academic or business writing. For enhanced clarity and correctness, opting for "less time" is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less time

Omits the "of", resulting in a grammatically standard phrase.

shorter time

Uses "shorter" as a direct replacement for "less", emphasizing the duration.

reduced time

Emphasizes the act of reducing the amount of time.

minimal time

Indicates a very small amount of time.

decreased time

Highlights the decrease in the amount of time.

less duration

Replaces "time" with its synonym, "duration".

smaller time frame

Specifies the "time" as a delimited period.

brief period

Emphasizes that the time is short and concise.

quicker duration

Highlights that something happens faster or in a more reduced time.

expedited timeframe

Stresses the acceleration of the period.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "less of time" in a sentence?

While "less of time" appears in some contexts, it's generally more accurate to use "less time". For instance, instead of "I need less of time to complete this", say "I need less time to complete this".

What alternatives can I use instead of "less of time"?

You can replace "less of time" with alternatives like "less time", "shorter time", or "reduced time" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less of time"?

Standard grammar suggests using "less time" instead of "less of time". The former is more concise and widely accepted.

What's the difference between "less of time" and "less time"?

"Less time" is the standard and grammatically correct way to express a smaller amount of time. "Less of time" is less common and often considered awkward, so it's better to use "less time" for clarity and accuracy.