less quantities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less quantities" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression should be "smaller quantities" or "fewer quantities" depending on the context. Example: "We need to order smaller quantities of supplies to reduce waste."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

LC-ESI-MS spectra showed ten folds enhancement in the production of a secondary metabolite, fumiquinazoline C (49.30 µg/mg crude extract) which was earlier present in very less quantities (4.61 µg/mg crude extract) in the crude extract (Fig. 5).

AMB Express

For this reasons, scheduling of water and nitrogen application ought to consider providing relatively less quantities of water during the 0 60 DAS period as compared to the 90 120 and 60 90 DAS periods respectively, in order to provide just sufficient amounts of water so as to enhance the uptake of available nitrogen required for optimum growth and development of wheat.

Agricultural Water Management

When using two kinds of machineries to compact at the same time, the dump truck makes a bigger soil compaction degree, so the plots that using dump truck to compact have a bigger soil bulk density, worse soil permeability and stronger root penetrative resistance, and thus these cases hinder the growth of bacteria and actinomycetes, expressing the less quantities of the bacteria and actinomycetes.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

At mealtimes, focus less quantities consumed and tone down the persuading especially with new foods, and the "one more bite" mentality -- this will take off some of the pressure, and help prevent suspicion with new foods (i.e., kids thinking "why does mom want me to eat this carrot so badly?").

Huffington Post

The chickens eat less quantities, waste more feeds and has reduced production efficiency during the hot dry environmental temperatures.

BMC Veterinary Research

COD crystals are more common than COM crystals in nonstone formers' urine and are generally found in less quantities in stones than COM crystals.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

People want less quantity, but more quality and taste.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We have less quantity but more quality," Ms. Exinger said.

The New York Times

"One of the challenges we have is selling a concept that certainly provides less quantity," Mr. Kirk said.

The New York Times

It still pushes through but in far less quantity than before and although this approach is a slow one, it does bring a great deal of satisfaction.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last year, the company rolled out Yelp Deals, a daily deals offering similar to Groupon's, but it has since scaled back the program to focus on higher quality deals but less quantity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal or academic writing, replace "less quantities" with grammatically sound alternatives like "fewer quantities" (for countable items) or "smaller amounts" (for non-countable items).

Common error

Avoid using "less" when "fewer" is grammatically appropriate. "Less" should modify non-countable nouns, while "fewer" is used for countable nouns. For example, it's correct to say "fewer apples" but "less apple juice".

Linguistic Context

The phrase primarily functions as a quantifier, aiming to express a reduced amount or number of something. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig examples show it appears in various contexts, including scientific reports and news articles, despite its incorrectness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While "less quantities" appears in various sources according to Ludwig, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, more appropriate alternatives include "fewer quantities" (for countable items) and "smaller amounts" (for non-countable items). Though the phrase's intent is often clear, it's advisable to use more precise and grammatically correct alternatives, especially in formal and academic writing. For clear communication, it's also helpful to remember: use "fewer quantities" when referring to a plural noun, and "smaller amounts" when referring to a singular noun. By understanding these distinctions, writers can ensure accuracy and precision in their expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller quantities

Emphasizes a reduction in the amount of discrete, countable items.

fewer quantities

Highlights a reduction in the number of something, focusing on countability.

smaller amounts

Focuses on the degree or extent to which something is present, suitable for non-countable items.

reduced amounts

Highlights that a amount has undergone a decrease or reduction.

lower quantities

Indicates a decrease to a lower level or degree in terms of number.

decreased amounts

Highlights that an amount has been lessened.

less volume

Refers specifically to a smaller spatial extent or capacity.

reduced volume

Highlights that volume has undergone a decrease or reduction.

smaller volume

Focuses on volume being smaller in size or capacity.

lower volume

Highlights that volume is reduced to a lower level or degree.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "less quantities"?

The correct way depends on whether you are referring to something countable or non-countable. Use "fewer quantities" for countable items and "smaller amounts" for non-countable items.

Is it grammatically correct to use "less quantities"?

No, "less quantities" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Use alternatives like "smaller quantities" or "fewer quantities" instead.

When should I use "fewer quantities" instead of "less quantities"?

"Fewer quantities" is appropriate when referring to items that can be counted individually. For example, "We need to order "fewer quantities" of apples this week".

What are some alternatives to "less quantities" for non-countable items?

For non-countable items, you can use phrases like "smaller amounts" or "reduced amounts". For example, "We need to use "smaller amounts" of water".