less stronger than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'less stronger than' is not correct in written English.
The phrase should be 'less strong than'. For example, "This coffee is less strong than the last one I had."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Immunoelectron microscopy detection of Aβ was much less stronger than of APP, since optimal intracellular labeling with the antibodies for Aβ forms in our model requires pre-treatment with formic acid which is not compatible with EM processing.

Acta Neuropathologica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Those cribworks are less strong than nature's own constructs.

The New Yorker

Some swear words are considered less strong than others, but I would avoid them all.

The Guardian - Money

For a storm a little less strong than this, that would have been enough.

The New Yorker

Sir John Vickers, who led the Independent Commission on Banking, said: "The Bank of England proposal is less strong than what the ICB recommended".

The Guardian - Business

On average, women's support for the use of force is less strong than men's, by about 10 points.

The New York Times

"It's a little less strong than we had expected and unlike the last few years is not a lot stronger than we had expected".

The New York Times

When a successful team like Foreign Office Architects split, there is always a chance that the parts will prove less strong than the whole.

The Guardian - Arts

The tests showed, though, that the new phones are substantially less strong than 2012's iPhone 5, whose body is also used in 2013's iPhone 5S.

The Guardian - Tech

Sandy clay is less strong than the purer kind, and rebuilding the levees here for St. Bernard Parish, east of New Orleans, requires very good dirt.

The New York Times

The military's grip on key civil institutions, including major transport hubs and media organisations, appears less strong than reported earlier in the coup.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using double comparatives like "less stronger than". Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "less strong than" or "weaker than".

Common error

Do not combine "less" with adjectives that already have comparative suffixes (-er). Using "less" is redundant and grammatically incorrect in such cases. Choose either "less strong" or "weaker", but not "less stronger".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less stronger than" functions as a comparative, attempting to express that one thing possesses a lower degree of strength than another. However, Ludwig AI points out that it is not a grammatically correct expression. The single example found by Ludwig is an incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

100%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less stronger than" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it's a double comparative, combining "less" with an adjective that already has a comparative suffix (-er). While a single example exists in the search results, it's advisable to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "less strong than" or "weaker than". These options provide clarity and are widely accepted in both formal and informal contexts. It's important to use correct grammar in scientific and professional texts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as strong as

Replaces the double comparative ("less stronger") with a standard "as...as" comparison.

weaker than

Uses a more direct adjective ("weaker") to indicate a lower degree of strength.

not quite as powerful as

Substitutes "strong" with "powerful" and uses a hedging adverb ("quite") for nuance.

of a lesser magnitude than

Replaces "strong" with "magnitude" and uses more formal language.

to a smaller extent than

Shifts the focus to the degree or extent of the strength.

less potent than

Replaces "strong" with "potent" to suggest reduced effectiveness or force.

not nearly as robust as

Uses "robust" instead of "strong" and adds "nearly" for emphasis.

fainter than

Employs "fainter" to describe a weaker or less distinct quality.

inferior to

Indicates a lower quality or effectiveness compared to something else.

not as influential as

Replaces "strong" with "influential" to highlight a lack of impact or sway.

FAQs

Is "less stronger than" grammatically correct?

No, "less stronger than" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "less strong than" or "weaker than".

When should I use "less strong than" instead of "weaker than"?

Both "less strong than" and "weaker than" can be used to show a comparative, where something isn't as strong. "Weaker than" implies a more direct comparison of strength, while "less strong than" can be used when you want to emphasize the degree of strength.

What are some alternatives to "less stronger than"?

Besides "less strong than" and "weaker than", you can also use phrases like "not as strong as", "not quite as powerful as", or "to a smaller extent than."

Which is correct: "less strong than" or "less stronger than"?

Less strong than is the correct and grammatically accepted form. "Less stronger than" is considered a double comparative and should be avoided.