less profits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less profits" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "lower profits" or "reduced profits." Example: "The company reported lower profits this quarter compared to last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

A decline in company profitability over the medium to long-term as interest rates lead to less profits as a result of higher costs of credit.

Huffington Post

If they paid less, profits would be lower.

The Economist

For the owners, they get a lot less profits, which is good, too.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's easy to say you would like us to have to have less profits and have that somewhere else.

The Guardian - Tech

The biotechnology companies have yet to prove their ability to translate their research into revenues, much less profits.

The New York Times

"Profits will not be as strong, and with less profits business investment in the new technologies will not be as strong and the stock market won't be strong".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

This will mean less profit margin and higher prices".

The New York Times - Tech

Their sales decrease, and they make less profit.

The New Yorker

Additionally, banks operating in countries with greater unification of supervisory authorities are less profit efficient.

Journal of Banking & Finance

By comparison, trusts and estates work requires far less manpower, which mean far less profit.

The New York Times

Who can run a business at less profit?" Amazon continues to expand.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "lower profits" or "reduced profits" in formal writing to adhere to standard grammatical conventions. Using grammatically correct alternatives enhances clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns like "profits". "Less" is generally used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"), while "fewer" is appropriate for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer apples"). However, in this case, it's better to rephrase using "lower profits" or "reduced profits" because "fewer profits" sounds unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less profits" functions as a noun phrase describing a decrease in financial gains. Although commonly found, Ludwig AI indicates that using "less" with the countable noun "profits" is grammatically incorrect. More appropriate alternatives include "lower profits" or "reduced profits".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less profits" is frequently encountered, particularly in news and media contexts, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests opting for alternatives like "lower profits" or "reduced profits" to adhere to standard English grammar. These alternatives provide greater clarity and are more suitable for formal writing. While widespread, using grammatically correct phrasing enhances the credibility and precision of your communication, making it crucial to prioritize accuracy in professional and academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower profits

Replaces "less" with "lower", a more grammatically standard adjective for describing a reduction in profits.

reduced profits

Substitutes "less" with "reduced", offering a more formal and grammatically sound alternative.

smaller profits

Uses "smaller" instead of "less" to indicate a decrease in the size of profits.

diminished profits

Employs "diminished" to suggest a lessening or reduction in profits, carrying a slightly more formal tone.

decreased profits

Replaces "less" with "decreased", directly indicating a quantifiable reduction in profits.

thinner profits

Uses "thinner" as a metaphor to describe reduced profit margins or overall profitability.

lower earnings

Replaces "profits" with "earnings" to express the concept using alternative terminology.

reduced earnings

Combines the idea of reduction with the term "earnings" for a similar meaning.

contracted profits

Suggests a shrinking or compression of profits, indicating a decline.

declining profits

Emphasizes the downward trend of profits, indicating an ongoing reduction.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct alternative to "less profits"?

While "less profits" is commonly used, "lower profits" or "reduced profits" are grammatically preferred. "Lower" and "reduced" are more appropriate adjectives to describe a decrease in profit.

Is it always wrong to use "less" with a plural noun like "profits"?

The use of "less" with plural nouns is often debated. While generally "fewer" is preferred for countable nouns, "less" is sometimes used for sums of money or periods of time, but in the specific case of profits the most appropriate word is "lower" or "reduced".

How can I use "lower profits" in a sentence?

Example: "The company reported lower profits this quarter due to increased operating costs." Other option: "The reduced profits were a result of a decrease in sales".

What's the difference between "lower profits" and "reduced profits"?

"Lower profits" and "reduced profits" are largely interchangeable and have almost the same meaning. "Lower" directly indicates a smaller amount, while "reduced" implies an action of decreasing something.