less predictable that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less predictable that" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "less predictable than"? You can use "less predictable than" when comparing the predictability of two or more subjects or situations. Example: "The weather this year is less predictable than it was last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But many punters have also complained, saying that races now look less competitive than before, that results are less predictable, that the "best" horse wins less often.

The Guardian - Sport

They agree that threats to America have become less predictable, that the next war is likely to be very different from Vietnam or the gulf war and that the proper response entails incorporating new technology -- vivid information-gathering sensors, fast computers, precision guidance, robotics -- and new fighting dogma to make our forces more aware and more agile.

The New York Times - Magazine

But it was less predictable that Tutu's appeal and religious voice would be invoked by South Africa's Health Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

While The National Journal ranked Mr. Kerry the Senate's most liberal member based on his roll-call votes in 2003, his career voting --and speaking -- record is more eclectic and less predictable than that rating would imply.

The New York Times

Moreover, their clearance is less predictable than that of lactate, at least for citric acid [ 19].

Critical Care

"But the challenge was to do something less predictable than Robocop that could be realized in fashion".

The New York Times

Yes, we've had self-driving aircraft for ages, but traffic at ground level is a lot less predictable than that at 30,000ft.

The Guardian - Tech

Avoidance of elbow stiffness in children is the main goal in these injuries, as operative treatment of elbow contracture is reported to be less favourable and less predictable than that in adult patients [6, 12, 13].

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

It seems less predictable than inevitable that all the qualities we come to associate with Lee — his stiffness, his embarrassment, his volatile mix of pride and timidity — begin to strike those around him as evidence of wrongdoing.

The New York Times - Books

The owner of Argos and Homebase issued an unusual profit warning before Christmas, stating that the festive season was less predictable than in the past and that it was investing more than expected in launching a same-day delivery network across the country.

The Guardian - Business

My return trip on the E, also on a Friday evening, took about 20 minutes from Sutphin Boulevard to midtown, although the subway is less predictable than the Long Island Rail Road, so that trip could take longer.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "than" when making comparisons. Instead of saying "less predictable that", use "less predictable than" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

The word "that" should not be used for making comparisons. "Than" is the correct word to use when comparing two things. Using "that" in place of "than" can lead to grammatically incorrect sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less predictable that" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to describe something as having a lower degree of predictability. However, it's grammatically flawed, as Ludwig AI points out. The correct construction requires the use of "than" for comparisons.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less predictable that" is encountered in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The proper comparative form is "less predictable than". Although the phrase attempts to convey a comparison of predictability, it should be avoided in formal writing. Correct alternatives such as "not as predictable as" or "more uncertain than" should be preferred. Despite appearing in news, media, and scientific articles, its use diminishes credibility in professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less predictable than

Corrects the grammatical structure by using 'than' for comparison instead of 'that'.

not as predictable as

Provides a grammatically sound alternative using a different comparative structure.

more uncertain than

Replaces 'predictable' with 'uncertain', offering a similar meaning with correct grammar.

less foreseeable than

Substitutes 'predictable' with 'foreseeable', maintaining a similar sense with proper grammar.

harder to anticipate than

Emphasizes the difficulty in predicting, using a more descriptive phrase.

more difficult to foresee than

Similar to 'harder to anticipate', but uses 'foresee' instead.

less easy to predict than

Rephrases the original concept using 'easy to predict' in a negative comparison.

more haphazard than

Replaces the concept of predictability with the idea of randomness or chance.

more contingent than

Highlights the conditional or dependent nature of the situation, implying unpredictability.

less determined than

Focuses on the lack of predetermination, suggesting that outcomes are not fixed or predictable.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "less predictable" in a comparison?

When comparing predictability, use "less predictable than". For example, "The stock market this year is "less predictable than" it was last year".

What can I say instead of "less predictable that"?

Use grammatically correct alternatives like ""less predictable than"", "not as predictable as", or "more uncertain than".

Which is correct, "less predictable that" or "less predictable than"?

"Less predictable than" is correct. "Less predictable that" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "less predictable that" and "less predictable than"?

"Less predictable that" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. "Less predictable than" is the correct way to compare the predictability of two or more subjects.