less question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less question" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a specific meaning, making it difficult to use appropriately in context. Example: "I have less question about the topic after our discussion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

If their frankly prosaic character renders pronouncements about the excellence of individual pictures difficult to make, she observes, there is less question about the force and power of the totality of his work.

The New York Times - Books

But I do think that once self-driving technology hits a certain tipping point, it will cause us — or at least a sizable cohort of us — to re-evaluate a lot of the fundamentals of modern society which are so essential that we rarely even think about them any more, much less question how different the world would be if they were upended.

TechCrunch

A product of the militarization of radio during the war years, the perverse effect of the phenomenon comes into light during these days of transition toward peace, days in which important, sensitive topics affecting the community abound, and in which there's no one not a single civilian voice to address them, much less question, investigate, or argue about them.

Vice

From analysis of the online questionnaire, practitioners indicated that they wished to include more detail in the language used on the problem list than less (Question #10).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It seems simpler and less question-begging to say that we keep on working long hours and buying lots of stuff because, whatever the ultimate cause, we take less satisfaction in the occupations of non-commercial leisure.(Photo credit: AFP).

The Economist

We need to be asked less questions in the try-saving department".

Independent

"They're acting like immigration, but I think immigration would ask you less questions".

The New York Times

I do feel like when I'm in Europe I get way less questions about nudity.

The Guardian

But a more illuminating and less question-begging way of proceeding would be to ask how this goal relates to other epistemic values.

SEP

Interestingly enough, God seems to be the answer to less and less questions.

Huffington Post

See related research by Shulman et al., That tight glycaemic control in critical care saves lives is increasingly less questioned.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to indicate a smaller quantity of questions, use "fewer questions" instead of the grammatically incorrect phrase "less question".

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable nouns like "questions". "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"). Use "fewer" for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer questions").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less question" functions incorrectly as a noun phrase intended to quantify questions. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is not standard English. The correct usage requires "fewer" before countable nouns like "questions".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Wiki

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Encyclopedias

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intention behind using the phrase "less question" might be to express a smaller quantity of questions or reduced uncertainty, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that standard English requires the use of "fewer" with countable nouns like "questions". The authoritative sources show examples of the phrase in use, but primarily in contexts where alternatives like ""fewer questions"", "less doubt", or "reduced inquiries" would be more appropriate. Therefore, writers should avoid "less question" and opt for grammatically correct and clearer alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer questions

This is the grammatically correct way to refer to a smaller number of questions.

a smaller number of questions

This is a more formal and explicit way of saying "fewer questions".

reduced inquiries

This is a more formal way of saying "fewer questions", often used in official contexts.

less doubt

This phrase shifts the focus from questioning to the presence of uncertainty.

less uncertainty

Similar to "less doubt", this emphasizes a decrease in uncertainty.

a less contentious issue

This suggests that the topic is causing less disagreement or debate.

diminished questioning

This describes a state where the act of questioning has lessened or decreased.

a more settled matter

This alternative implies that the issue is mostly resolved or agreed upon.

a more straightforward inquiry

This focuses on the simplicity or directness of the questioning process.

a less problematic aspect

This changes the focus to an aspect that presents fewer difficulties or issues.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say I have few questions?

The grammatically correct way to say you have few questions is to state "I have "fewer questions"". The term "fewer" is used with countable nouns.

Is it correct to use "less" with questions?

No, it is generally incorrect to use "less" with countable nouns like questions. The proper term to use is "fewer". Saying ""fewer questions"" is the grammatically correct way to express having a smaller number of questions.

How can I rephrase "less question" to sound more natural?

To sound more natural, replace "less question" with phrases like ""fewer questions"", "not as many questions", or "less doubt" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "less question" and "little question"?

While "less question" is grammatically incorrect, "little question" implies that something is almost certain or beyond doubt. A more appropriate alternative to "less question", when you want to refer to quantity, is "fewer questions".