less prevalent than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less prevalent than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the frequency or occurrence of two different things, indicating that one is not as common as the other. Example: "The use of traditional media is less prevalent than digital media in today's society."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some state mental hospitals remain, but they are much less prevalent than they once were.

Harvard University

Knapp's group showed that brown dwarfs are less prevalent than theoretical estimates had suggested.

Princeton University

Group II alveolates, in contrast, were much less prevalent than previously reported.

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

Bacterial nodulation is much less prevalent than in either of the other two subfamilies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Family life is central to most Jamaicans, although formal marriages are less prevalent than in most other countries.

Britannica

Although there is little data, there is no reason to believe it is less prevalent than elsewhere in the world.

The Economist

First, Campbell said, fighting — and rough stuff in general — is less prevalent than when he played in the N.H.L. from the mid-1970s thethe mid-80s.

The New York Times - Sports

We note that the 5 ns tail from 1P is shorter and less prevalent than the 9 ns tail from 2P-TRPL at the surface.

Nature

Several gay leaders said that outright discrimination against gay people in the workplace is undoubtedly much less prevalent than in the past.

The New York Times

* Testing in grades PK-2 is less prevalent than in other grades, but survey results indicate that testing in these grades is common as well.

The Washington Post

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysms are less prevalent than true SAA.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the prevalence of two phenomena, ensure that the categories being compared are clearly defined. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "than" with non-comparative adjectives. For example, don't say "less prevalent to" – always use "than" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less prevalent than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to compare the frequency or commonality of one thing relative to another, indicating that one occurs to a smaller extent than the other. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

29%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less prevalent than" is a grammatically sound and widely used comparative phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to compare the frequency or occurrence of two items, indicating that one is rarer than the other. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. For alternative expressions, consider options like ""not as common as"" or "less frequent than" to achieve similar comparative meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as common as

Replaces "less prevalent" with a more common and straightforward expression of comparison.

less frequent than

Substitutes "prevalent" with "frequent", focusing on the rate of occurrence.

not as widespread as

Replaces "prevalent" with "widespread", emphasizing the extent of distribution.

less usual than

Uses "usual" instead of "prevalent", highlighting the typicality of an event.

less often than

Focuses on the frequency of occurrence using the adverb "often".

rarer compared to

Employs "rarer" to stress the uncommon nature of something in comparison.

less typical than

Replaces "prevalent" with "typical", indicating a lower degree of expectedness.

occurs less than

Uses a verb-centered structure to directly state the lower occurrence rate.

infrequent compared to

Uses the adjective "infrequent" to describe the comparative rarity.

scarcer than

Substitutes with "scarcer", emphasizing a lack of availability or presence.

FAQs

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

Use "less prevalent than" to compare the frequency or occurrence of two different things, indicating that one is not as common as the other. For example, "The use of traditional media is "not as common as" digital media in today's society."

What's the difference between "less prevalent than" and "less common than"?

The phrases "less prevalent than" and "less common than" are largely interchangeable. "Less prevalent than" might be seen as slightly more formal, but both convey the same meaning of one thing occurring less frequently than another.

What are some alternatives to saying "less prevalent than"?

You can use alternatives like ""not as common as"", "less frequent than", or "not as widespread as" depending on the specific context.

Is it always correct to use "less prevalent than"?

Yes, "less prevalent than" is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Just ensure that you are using it to compare two distinct items or phenomena where one genuinely occurs less often than the other.