less since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less since" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear in what context it is intended to be used, as "less" typically requires a comparative element that is not provided by "since." Example: "I have been feeling less since the incident." (This is awkward and unclear.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

And it has stayed closed, more or less, since then.

The New York Times

I read a lot less since I had children.

The New York Times

"Now it is one month more or less since he restarted training.

The Guardian - Sport

The state has classified it a "distressed municipality" — bankrupt, more or less — since the Reagan administration.

The New York Times

They admit that they've been coming into the city centre less since the attacks.

The Guardian - Travel

"I expected it even less since I wasn't even on the programme," he added.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

It's not hard to imagine Dylan wanting to get off the road, where he'd lived more or less since 1961.

The New Yorker

Alas, Idealab's stakes are worth an average 80% less since last fall.

Forbes

In addition, Americans have been exercising steadily less since 1950.

Huffington Post

Says founder Gary McNamee: "Our internal motto is, 'Making treadmill running suck less since 2011.' ".

Huffington Post

Each iteration of the Galaxy S series has sold less since 2013.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing quantifiable nouns, use "fewer since" instead of "less since" to ensure grammatical accuracy. For example, "There are fewer students attending class since the pandemic" is more grammatically sound than "There are less students attending class since the pandemic".

Common error

The word "less" should be used for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"), while "fewer" is appropriate for countable nouns (e.g., "fewer cars"). Avoid using "less" when "fewer" is grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less since" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating a decrease or reduction from a certain point in time. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, even though Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While frequently used, the phrase "less since" is grammatically dubious, particularly when describing countable nouns. Ludwig highlights its prevalence across news, science, and general content, yet Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect. For clarity and grammatical accuracy, replace "less since" with alternatives like "fewer since" (for countable nouns) or rephrase to express the reduction more explicitly. Despite its common usage, mindful writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain credibility and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer since

Replaces "less" with "fewer" to correct the grammar when referring to countable items.

reduced since

Emphasizes the decrease or reduction that has occurred from a specific time.

declined since

Highlights a downward trend or decline since a certain point.

not as much since

Offers a clearer alternative using "not as much" to convey a decrease.

decreased since

Specifically denotes that something has lessened from a particular time.

lower since

Indicates that a value or quantity is now lower compared to the past.

diminished since

Suggests a reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

eased since

Conveys that a problem or difficulty has become less severe.

softened since

Indicates a weakening or lessening of impact or intensity.

abated since

Implies a reduction in intensity or degree.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to use "less since"?

The phrase "less since" is often considered grammatically incorrect, especially when referring to countable items. It's generally better to use "fewer since" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What's a better alternative to "less since" when referring to countable nouns?

Use "fewer since" instead of "less since" when referring to countable nouns. For instance, instead of saying "less people came", say "fewer people came".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "less since" to make it grammatically correct?

Instead of using "less since", you can rephrase the sentence to use alternatives like "not as much since" or describe the reduction more explicitly. For example, "The workload has decreased since the new system was installed".

When is it appropriate to use "less" instead of "fewer"?

"Less" is appropriate when referring to uncountable nouns, such as "less water", "less effort", or "less time". Use "fewer" when referring to countable nouns like "fewer people", "fewer cars", or "fewer problems".