less superior

USAGE SUMMARY

'less superior' is not a correct phrase in written English.
Instead you might use the phrase 'inferior'. For example: "His skills in soccer were less superior to those of his teammate."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"I don't accept at all that our offer is less superior," he said.

The New York Times

"At Mitsubishi, you have a questionable brand, less superior production facilities, more debts and fewer assets to sell," said Chris Redl, an analyst at UBS Warburg in Tokyo.

The New York Times

Efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) fabricated with pristine SnO2 nanocrystals was reported to be less superior compared to DSSC based on mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles though both oxides have comparable electrical and surface properties.

Electrochimica Acta

As expected, NS-GFMAPR produced results less superior to those of S-GFMAPR.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Siquijodnons contrast popular belief with modern knowledge to make moral evaluations of people and simultaneously claim to believe that local knowledge is no less superior than the Amerikanos' (the West).

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

They all failed and in hindsight, I now know they had very little chance of success - funding meant we were offered a less superior form of treatment (and consequently a lower success rate - just 8%) and the clinic also made mistakes with our treatment regime.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The cabin is comfortable and well designed, but seems less clearly superior to Accords of old.

The New York Times

Their teammates have seen these pitchers come up big so many times that they expect nothing less than superior efforts from them.

The New York Times - Sports

The Polk gets more from less, generating superior sound from only four speakers in the sound bar and an external wireless subwoofer.

The New York Times - Tech

Older buildings tend to have higher Energy Star scores because they have thicker walls, fewer windows and less ventilation — superior "thermal envelopes," as a report on the early results puts it.

The New York Times - Science

As he notes in an introductory video, "some scenes in particular play a lot better, and some, there's information we got from the colour that's missing," making this less a superior version of the film, and more an illuminating counterpoint to the one we saw in cinemas.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "less superior" in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "inferior" or "not as good".

Common error

The phrase "less superior" creates a double negative effect, implying something is 'more inferior', which is illogical. Refrain from combining comparative adjectives in this way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less superior" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to describe something as being of a lower quality or status. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered a correct phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less superior" appears in various contexts, including scientific articles and news reports as demonstrated by Ludwig, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests using "inferior" or "not as good" as more appropriate alternatives. The phrase attempts to function as a comparative adjective, indicating a lower quality or status. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid using "less superior" in formal writing and instead opt for clearer and more grammatically sound options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inferior

Direct replacement with a single word indicating lower quality or status.

not as good

Simple and direct way of expressing lower quality.

of lower quality

More formal way to indicate reduced quality.

subpar

A concise term for something below the expected standard.

not quite as excellent

More verbose emphasizing that the item is not excellent.

deficient

Highlights a lack of necessary qualities.

lacking in quality

Focuses on the absence of quality.

of a lower standard

Formal way of indicating the item is not of the expected standard.

second-rate

Informal and direct indicating a lower class.

not up to par

Informal way to indicate something doesn't meet expectations.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "less superior"?

You can use alternatives like "inferior", "not as good", or "of lower quality" depending on the context.

Is "less superior" grammatically correct?

No, "less superior" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "inferior" or a similar alternative.

How to use "less superior" in a sentence correctly?

While technically incorrect, if you intend to convey 'not as superior', consider rephrasing for clarity and grammatical correctness. Use alternatives like "not as superior" or, more simply, "inferior".

What's the difference between "less superior" and "inferior"?

"Less superior" attempts to express a comparative lack of superiority but is grammatically awkward. "Inferior" directly means lower in rank, status, or quality and is the preferred term.