less still

USAGE SUMMARY

"less still" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the degree of something being reduced or decreased. Here is an example sentence: "The economy has been struggling for years, and now with the recent pandemic, jobs are becoming scarce, less still are opportunities for growth and advancement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Less still is there security.

The Guardian - Books

Our analysis from before is more or less still intact.

Yale University

Under the Obama budget, they would have less still.

The Washington Post

He rarely speaks in public, less still to journalists.

The Guardian

You can get the look for less (still a lot, but less).

The New York Times

And the chance of an audit was less still for partnerships: 1 in 400.

The New York Times

If the HMO can provide a more attractive care package for less still, it can keep the difference.

The Economist

China, the heir apparent to nobody's world, has scarcely a word to say on Syria, less still on Iran.

The New York Times

And less still the environmental non-governmental organisations that are lining up to defend this eco-rich stretch of coastline.

Independent

Her paintings are less still lifes than self-contained abstractions that use nature as a starting point.

The New York Times

Barely £500,000 have been pledged to journalism projects, and crafts and dance projects have raised less still.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less still" to indicate a further reduction from an already diminished state, creating a sense of progressive decline or scarcity. For instance, 'There was little food left, and less still any hope of resupply.'

Common error

Avoid using "less still" when referring to countable items. Use "fewer still" instead. For example, say 'There are fewer still apples on the tree' rather than 'There are less still apples on the tree'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less still" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate a further reduction in quantity or degree. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in diminishing or declining contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less still" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It effectively conveys a further reduction from an already diminished state. It appears most commonly in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. When writing, remember to use "less still" for uncountable nouns and "fewer still" for countable nouns. Alternative phrasing, such as "even less" or "to a lesser extent", can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even less

Emphasizes a further reduction from an already low amount.

still less

Reverses the word order while retaining the original meaning.

even fewer

Used when referring to countable items rather than a general quantity.

to a lesser extent

Expresses a reduced degree or scope of something.

even a smaller amount

Highlights the reduced quantity in a more descriptive way.

even a smaller quantity

Highlights the reduced quantity in a more descriptive way.

still a smaller amount

Highlights the reduced quantity in a more descriptive way.

to a smaller degree

Expresses a reduced degree or scope of something.

even a reduced amount

Emphasizes the decrease in amount.

to a lower degree

Expresses a reduction in intensity or level.

FAQs

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

Use "less still" to indicate that something is decreasing even further from an already low level. For example: "Initially, there were few resources available, and "less still" after the budget cuts."

What does "less still" mean?

"Less still" means that something is reduced to an even smaller amount or degree than before. It emphasizes a further decline or reduction from an already diminished state. For example, "There was little support for the project, and "less still" after the controversy."

Which is correct, "less still" or "fewer still"?

Use "less still" for uncountable nouns and general quantities. Use "fewer still" for countable nouns. For example: "There was less water in the well, and "less still" after the drought." But, "There were fewer apples on the tree, and "fewer still" after the storm."

What are some alternatives to "less still"?

Alternatives to "less still" include "even less", "still less", or "to a lesser extent", depending on the context. These phrases convey a similar idea of decreasing amounts or degrees.