less suspected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less suspected" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is not as likely to be suspected as something else, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "In this case, the less suspected culprit turned out to be the one responsible for the crime."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

If league tables did a better job of capturing quality as well as quantity, they would be less suspected.

The Economist

Patients with HPV-negative tumors presented with larger tumors and were clinically less suspected to have lymph node metastases (LNM) (Table S2).

Cancer Medicine

In the rest of the world, ML is generally less suspected and consequently less reported.

BioMed Research International

For the less suspected houses, windows were required to be kept open at all times, perfumes to be sprayed, and all surfaces washed with vinegar (Instructions LIII and XLIX).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Minnesota bar rocker Ike Reilly is more clever and slightly less suspect.

The New York Times

To make the results less suspect, they also counted a ballot containing some Republican votes a total of six times.

The New Yorker

The Americans and Europeans, supported by Russia and China, promised that a halt to enrichment would win Iran improved political and economic ties, talks on regional security and help with advanced, but less suspect, nuclear technology.

The Economist

Both multiples are far lower than those of smaller lenders in India and Indonesia that are perceived to have better growth prospects or less suspect accounts.These modest valuations, and the apparent determination of the Chinese government to offer support come what may, means that the banks will probably still be able to raise some capital from outside.

The Economist

The books, ideas, and people flowing from these lands into Muscovy in the 17th century, however, were hardly less suspect than those of Roman Catholic Poland, and, as these "aliens" acquired a dominant position in Muscovite cultural affairs, resentment was added to suspicion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And there are a lot of other influential places -- like most major newsrooms, for example -- where there may be no norm but where announcing oneself an atheist probably makes one a lot less suspect than announcing oneself, say, a born-again Christian.

The New York Times

"I think that dog owners more or less suspect, at least, that dogs can remember events from the past - what is novel is the type of memory they can use for doing so," said Claudia Fugazza lead author of the study from the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less suspected", consider if a more common alternative like "less likely to be suspected" would improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid overusing "less suspected" in formal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound unnatural; opt for clearer alternatives like "less likely to be suspected" or "not initially suspected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less suspected" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a reduced probability of being suspected. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is not commonly used and can be replaced by alternatives for clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less suspected" is a grammatically sound but relatively uncommon way to express a reduced level of suspicion. While understandable, Ludwig AI suggests that it can often be replaced by clearer alternatives like "less likely to be suspected" or "not as suspected". Its usage is primarily found in news and scientific contexts, but it tends to be avoided in more formal or colloquial settings. When writing, consider the audience and context, and opt for a more common synonym to ensure clarity. While not incorrect, overuse of the phrase might lead to awkward phrasing. Therefore, it is considered acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less likely to be suspected

Replaces the past participle with a more common phrasing using "likely".

not as suspected

Directly negates the initial assumption or suspicion.

less readily suspected

Adds an adverb to emphasize the ease with which suspicion is avoided.

less commonly suspected

Focuses on the frequency with which something is suspected.

not initially suspected

Highlights that the lack of suspicion occurred at the beginning.

under suspicion to a lesser degree

More formally expresses a reduced level of suspicion.

less prominently suspected

Emphasizes the visibility or prominence of the suspicion.

less often presumed

Substitutes "suspected" with "presumed" for a slightly different nuance.

not typically suspected

Indicates that suspicion is unusual or atypical.

less visibly suspected

Focuses on the outward appearance or evidence of suspicion.

FAQs

What does "less suspected" mean?

The phrase "less suspected" means that something or someone is not as likely to be suspected, or is under a lower degree of suspicion, compared to something else.

What can I say instead of "less suspected"?

You can use alternatives like "less likely to be suspected", "not as suspected", or "less readily suspected" depending on the context.

Is "less suspected" grammatically correct?

While "less suspected" is grammatically acceptable, it's considered less common and can sound awkward. Using "less likely to be suspected" often provides greater clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "less suspected"?

It's best to use "less suspected" sparingly. It may fit in specific technical contexts or when contrasting levels of suspicion. However, in many cases, a phrase like "not initially suspected" is more suitable.