less suggesting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less suggesting" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a meaning of being less indicative or less suggestive, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "The results of the study were less suggesting of a correlation than previously thought."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Those who scored three or more goals perceived the goal to be bigger than those who scored two or less, suggesting that some kind of feedback mechanism modulates perception according to performance.

The Guardian

He would also note that Tory columnists with close ties to cabinet ministers are more or less suggesting that his party is not serious because it does not support all the right-wing measures proposed by the Conservative leadership.

Independent

But thanks to the recent surge in stock prices, the market P/E has jumped to a much frothier 20.8, versus the historical average of around 16. "Current market valuations are high enough that they're more or less suggesting everything is going to be fine this year," said Robert D. Arnott, chairman of Research Affiliates, an investment management firm in Newport Beach, Calif.

The New York Times

Working in a small firm is associated with a reduction in the probability of being absent by 0.618 percentage points (about 27% less), suggesting that workers less sheltered by the EPL tend to be more present at work (as also shown by Ichino and Riphahn 2005).

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

One can make the argument that while "smell[ing] like a man" is important (a la Old Spice), "having the confidence of a man" -- as Axe is now, more or less, suggesting -- is the more effective, provocatively psychological selling point.

Huffington Post

Winter Svalbard ptarmigan cannot run, even though their metabolic cost of locomotion was less, suggesting that there was not a metabolic constraint limiting top speed.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

That holding areas saw gorillas foraging less suggests the animals do not like them.

The Economist

A coach, like a teacher, a principal or civic official, may not impose or sponsor a group prayer, much less suggest its content.

The New York Times

When Vice President Al Gore talks about what he would like to do for Americans who have no medical insurance if he is elected president, he more or less suggests that the nation become just like New York State.

The New York Times

Decision-making is often murky, and accountability vague; those of us who love and support the arts aren't invited to give our view, still less suggest how some of these problems should be solved.

The Guardian

In restaurants, he said, the expectations are well known: a tip of 15 to 20percentt is normal; anything less suggests the service wasn't up to snuff, and anything more, that the tipper was especially pleased.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey a reduced level of indication, use the phrase "suggesting less" in a grammatically correct manner such as by rephrasing the sentence, for example, 'The data suggests there is less of a correlation than previously believed'.

Common error

Avoid using "less suggesting" as a direct replacement for phrases like "suggesting a weaker" or "implying a reduced". Always ensure that the sentence structure is grammatically correct; for example, restructure the sentence to incorporate "suggesting less" appropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less suggesting" is typically intended to function as a modifier, aiming to express a reduced degree of indication or implication. However, due to its non-standard grammatical structure, it doesn't effectively fulfill this function in formal English. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less suggesting" is grammatically incorrect in standard written English. While it aims to express a reduced degree of indication, it's better to use grammatically sound alternatives like "suggesting a weaker" or restructuring the sentence entirely. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase doesn't follow proper grammatical conventions, despite appearing in some sources. When aiming for clarity and correctness, especially in formal contexts, avoiding "less suggesting" is highly recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggesting less

Reverses the order of the words to align with standard English grammar.

implying a weaker suggestion

Uses "implying" as a substitute for "suggesting" and clarifies the strength of the suggestion.

suggesting a lesser impact

Replaces 'less' with 'a lesser impact' to enhance clarity.

indicating a reduced effect

Substitutes "suggesting" with "indicating" and "less" with "reduced effect".

pointing to a smaller degree

Uses "pointing to" instead of "suggesting" and "smaller degree" in place of "less".

hinting at a lower probability

Replaces "suggesting" with "hinting at" and "less" with "lower probability".

inferring a diminished amount

Substitutes "suggesting" with "inferring" and "less" with "diminished amount".

suggesting a weaker correlation

Specifies the relationship being suggested as a "weaker correlation".

implying reduced significance

Uses "implying" and replaces "less" with "reduced significance".

suggesting a minor consequence

Clarifies the nature of the suggestion as related to a "minor consequence".

FAQs

How can I correctly use a phrase similar to "less suggesting" in a sentence?

Instead of "less suggesting", try rephrasing your sentence to use constructions like "suggesting a weaker" or "implying a reduced" effect. For example, "The evidence is suggesting a weaker correlation than initially thought".

What are some alternatives to "less suggesting" that maintain a similar meaning?

Alternatives include "indicating a reduction", "hinting at a decrease", or "implying a smaller" degree. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "less suggesting" grammatically correct?

No, "less suggesting" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "suggesting a lesser" or restructure the sentence for clarity.

What's the difference between "less suggesting" and "suggesting less"?

While "less suggesting" is not a standard phrase, "suggesting less" is grammatically correct when used to indicate a reduced amount or degree, for example, "The data is suggesting less involvement from the participants".