less often than

USAGE SUMMARY

"less often than" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used in comparison statements, where something is being compared to something else. For example: "I go to the gym less often than my friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I noticed that she blinked less often than most people.

The New Yorker

Soccer was on TV less often than beach volleyball.

The New Yorker

Why does Trump travel so less often than recent presidents?

The Washington Post

Today Romberg's quartets are performed less often than Boccherini's.

The New York Times - Arts

This happens far less often than you might expect.

The New York Times

Men get physical exams less often than women.

The New York Times

At some point helicopters came less often than boats.

The New York Times

He washes his jeans less often than he used to, which also preserves the denim.

Princeton University

Parliamentary committees met less often than in peacetime, and mostly in secret sessions.

University of California, Berkeley

The water depth is less often than the horizontal length of the tank.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Both children and adults navigated adaptively without fixating obstacles, however, adults fixated less often than children.

Vision Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less often than", ensure that the comparison is clear and that both elements being compared are explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "less often than" without clearly stating what you are comparing it to. For example, instead of saying "I visit my parents less often than I would like", be specific: "I visit my parents less often than I used to."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less often than" functions as an adverbial phrase of comparison, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate a reduced frequency relative to something else. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less often than" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative phrase that denotes a lower frequency of occurrence. According to Ludwig AI, its correctness and usability in written English are confirmed. Predominantly found in contexts such as News & Media and Science, the phrase is generally neutral in register, making it suitable for a wide array of writing styles. When employing "less often than", be sure to establish a clear comparison to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "not as frequently as" and "more rarely than" can offer stylistic variations while preserving the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as frequently as

Emphasizes frequency, similar to "less often than".

more infrequently than

Uses "infrequently" as an alternative to "often".

not so often as

A slightly more formal or archaic way of saying "less often than".

to a lesser extent than

Shifts the focus to the degree or extent of occurrence.

more rarely than

Replaces "often" with "rarely", emphasizing the uncommon nature.

on fewer occasions than

Focuses on the number of instances or events.

not as much as

More general, but can be used when the "often" refers to quantity or degree.

less habitually than

Focuses on a reduced habit or routine.

less usually than

Similar to habitually but highlights a deviation from the norm.

not as regularly as

Highlights that something is not done on a predictable or consistent schedule.

FAQs

How can I use "less often than" in a sentence?

Use "less often than" to compare the frequency of two actions or events. For instance, "I eat fast food "less often than" I used to" indicates a change in the frequency of eating fast food.

What are some alternatives to using "less often than"?

You can use alternatives like "not as frequently as", "more infrequently than", or "more rarely than" to convey a similar meaning to "less often than".

Is it grammatically correct to say "less often than"?

Yes, "less often than" is grammatically correct and widely used in English to compare the frequency of actions or events. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

What's the difference between "less often than" and "more rarely than"?

While both phrases indicate a lower frequency, "more rarely than" emphasizes the uncommon nature of the action or event, whereas "less often than" is a more general comparison of frequency.