less quantity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less quantity of" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "lesser quantity of" or simply "fewer." Example: "We have a lesser quantity of supplies this month compared to last month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

These techniques include the system of rice intensification technology which needed less quantity of seeds and in turn saves water and enhances production". You received this e-mail because you are subscribed to SRI-RICE-L.

Cornell University

The results of VFAs and Odour Index (OI) profile designated that compost with 8 12% biochar became more rapidly humified with less quantity of VFAs and OI generation content compared to control.

Bioresource Technology

Firstly, the less quantity of ethanol causes the minor NPs aggregation at aqueous gold colloid.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Additionally, as ZnAl31 LDH and ZnAl41 LDH contained the phase of ZnO, the less quantity of metal hydroxides and interlayer carbonate ions was present in the samples.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Micellar mobile phases usually need less quantity of organic modifier and generate less amount of toxic waste in comparison to aqueous-organic solvents, so that they are less toxic, non-flammable, biodegradable and relatively inexpensive [21].

Chemistry Central Journal

This fact could be attributed to the less quantity of the optical active material and to some scattering in the PMMA columns as a result of their apparent roughness.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

By offering less quantities of food, perhaps we may eventually have the option of providing better quality food for the same cost or even less.

Cornell University

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

'Qx-115' and 'Kingfisher' are cultivars with non-dispersing of pollen, 'Qx-097' is the cultivar with high quantities of pollen dispersal, and 'Noa' is the cultivar with less quantities of pollen dispersal.

BMC Plant Biology

In comparison with the Sigma system, the MSIP requires less quantities of antibody and no detection substrates, and nonspecific adsorption can be easily reduced by spotting murine IgG in the same frame as the capture antibody.

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using "smaller quantity" or "reduced quantity" instead of "less quantity". This enhances the precision of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable items; instead, use "fewer". For example, "fewer apples" is correct, while "less apples" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less quantity of" primarily functions as a modifier indicating a reduced amount. However, Ludwig AI analysis reveals that while used, it is grammatically questionable. More precise alternatives are encouraged for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

64%

Academia

18%

News & Media

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less quantity of" is used to indicate a reduced amount, but Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Although examples show common usage across Science, Academia, and News & Media, clearer and more precise alternatives such as "smaller quantity of" or "reduced quantity of" are recommended. When referring to countable items, "fewer" should be used instead. Employing these suggestions will improve the grammatical correctness and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller quantity of

Replaces "less" with "smaller", emphasizing the size or extent of the quantity.

reduced quantity of

Substitutes "less" with "reduced", focusing on the act of diminishing the quantity.

lower quantity of

Uses "lower" instead of "less", highlighting the diminished level or degree of the quantity.

smaller amount of

Employs "amount" instead of "quantity", offering a more general term for non-countable items.

fewer units of

Replaces "quantity" with "units", specifying countable items.

diminished amount of

Combines "diminished" with "amount", indicating a reduction in size or extent.

decreased quantity of

Uses "decreased" instead of "less", emphasizing the process of reduction.

scarcer quantity of

Suggests that the quantity is not only reduced but also harder to find or obtain.

more limited quantity of

Highlights the restricted or constrained nature of the quantity.

a drop in the quantity of

Emphasizes a decline or decrease in the quantity, often sudden or noticeable.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to use "less quantity of"?

While commonly used, "less quantity of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "smaller quantity of" or "reduced quantity of".

What's a better alternative to "less quantity of"?

You can use "smaller quantity of" or "reduced quantity of" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

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

Use "fewer" when referring to countable nouns. For example, "fewer items" is more appropriate than "less quantity of items".

How can I improve the precision of my writing when referring to reduced amounts?

Instead of "less quantity of", use more specific terms like "smaller amount of", "reduced number of", or "lower volume of" to enhance clarity.