less research

USAGE SUMMARY

"less research" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence, "I decided to focus more on practice than on less research."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We are now less research intensive than China.

The Guardian

Less research has focused on benefits to mentors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

QUESTION FROM TONI: Less research, fewer academic journals, less publishing, more teaching.

The New Yorker

Alternative methods of pest control get little funding, and less research.

The Guardian

There has been less research into sleep and A.D.H.D. outside of childhood.

The New York Times

These are all areas that receive far less research funding than does research into so-called "Western" diseases.

The Guardian

The most surprising difference was that the nonfiction book turned out to require less research than my novels.

The New York Times - Books

There is less research on this because it is opening a can of worms you don't really want to encourage.

The Guardian

The companies have long said that premature loss of patent protection would lead to less research into new drugs.

The New York Times

The cuts within individual departments, which topped more than 40% in some cases, mean even less research than many feared.

The Guardian

Of course there are some differences; I have fewer full-time academic staff and less research going on.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a need for further investigation, use "less research" to highlight the current gap in knowledge. For example, "Less research has explored the long-term effects of this treatment."

Common error

Avoid using "less research" when you mean "fewer research studies". "Less" is for uncountable nouns (like 'research' in general), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (like 'studies', 'articles', or 'papers').

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less research" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It typically indicates a deficiency or scarcity of scholarly investigation into a particular subject. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's used to point out gaps in existing knowledge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less research" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase indicating a deficiency or scarcity of investigation into a specific topic. As Ludwig AI states, it is used to point out gaps in existing knowledge and often highlights the need for further studies. Predominantly found in scientific and news media sources, its register varies from neutral to formal. Remember to use "less" with uncountable nouns like "research" itself, and not with countable nouns like "studies". When you want to suggest the inadequacy of research for a specific purpose, consider using "insufficient research".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced research

Emphasizes the act of diminishing the quantity of research.

decreased research

Highlights a decline in the amount of research being conducted.

limited research

Focuses on the restricted scope or availability of research.

scarce research

Stresses the rarity or lack of research in a particular area.

minimal research

Indicates a very small amount of research effort.

restricted research

Highlights limitations or constraints on research activities.

insufficient research

Suggests the inadequacy of research for a specific purpose.

under-researched

Describes a topic that has not received adequate research attention.

inadequate research

Similar to insufficient, emphasizing the lack of required research.

a paucity of research

Uses more formal language to denote a scarcity of research.

FAQs

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

You can use "less research" to indicate that there is a need for more investigation into a specific topic. For example, "There is "less research" on the effects of climate change on mental health."

What are some alternatives to saying "less research"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "limited research", "scarce research", or "under-researched".

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

No, it is more appropriate to use ""less research"". "Less" is used with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used with countable nouns, such as "fewer studies" or "fewer investigations".

What's the difference between ""less research"" and "more research"?

"Less research" indicates that a topic has not been studied extensively, while "more research" suggests that a topic has received considerable attention.