less ready

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less ready" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it when comparing one thing's readiness or preparedness level to another thing's level of readiness or preparedness. For example, you could say "John was less ready for the exam than his classmates were."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Giscard is no less ready to play on chauvinistic chords.

The Economist

But others were less ready to welcome the star.

The Guardian - Music

These Mr. Shapiro is less ready to take on.

The New York Times - Books

A '95 Jamet, 11 years older than the '06, seemed paradoxically less ready to drink.

The New York Times - Food

But Iranian men her age have been less ready to embrace American culture.

The New Yorker

He was less ready than Brigham to write the whole thing off.

The New Yorker

What I'm less ready to tolerate is criticism of natural hair from other black people.

The Guardian - Opinion

You may leave the theatre a little more tolerant, slightly less ready to judge.

The Guardian

But his son James seems less ready to turn the other cheek, as it were.

The Guardian

Well, I'd caution those authors to be less ready to pounce on errors.

The Guardian

We are less ready to notice the crimes of Paul Kagame.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less ready", ensure the comparison is clear. Specify what the subject is less ready for, or compare it to another entity or state.

Common error

Avoid using "less ready" without specifying the context. Saying "He is less ready" is vague. Instead, specify: "He is "less ready" for the marathon than he was last year."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less ready" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating a lower degree of preparedness or willingness compared to a previous state or another entity. Ludwig examples show its common use in comparing readiness levels.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less ready" is a grammatically sound and commonly used comparative adjective phrase that indicates a reduced state of preparedness or willingness. As confirmed by Ludwig, its versatility makes it appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news reports to everyday conversations. While "less ready" is generally well-understood, be sure to provide context to avoid ambiguity. For alternatives, consider "not fully prepared" or "not so willing" depending on your specific intention. Remember to use "less ready" when you want to highlight a comparative lack of preparation or enthusiasm. The best usage examples come from News and Media, with a decent presence in Science and formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as prepared

Directly compares the level of preparedness to another implied standard.

not fully prepared

Indicates a state of incomplete preparation compared to "less ready".

not quite prepared

Indicates a lower degree of preparation compared to "less ready".

relatively unprepared

Emphasizes a comparative lack of preparation.

somewhat unready

Emphasizes a slight lack of readiness, subtly different from "less ready".

lacking readiness

Focuses on the absence of a state of readiness.

not so willing

Shifts the focus from preparedness to willingness, implying a reluctance.

a bit unequipped

Highlights a lack of necessary equipment or skills, a specific type of unreadiness.

less inclined

Indicates a lack of enthusiasm or willingness, related to readiness in certain contexts.

not in position

Highlights an absence of adequate situation compared to "less ready"

FAQs

How can I use "less ready" in a sentence?

You can use "less ready" to compare the level of preparedness between two subjects or states, such as "She was "less ready" for the presentation than she thought".

What's the difference between "less ready" and "less prepared"?

While similar, "less ready" implies a general state of being unready, whereas ""less prepared"" suggests a specific lack of preparation for something.

What can I say instead of "less ready"?

You can use alternatives like "not fully prepared", "somewhat unequipped", or "not so willing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fewer ready" instead of "less ready"?

While "fewer" is typically used for countable nouns, "less" is used for uncountable nouns. "Ready" is an adjective describing a state, so "less ready" is the correct choice. "Fewer ready" is not standard English.