less suspicions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less suspicions" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "fewer suspicions" when referring to countable nouns like "suspicions." Example: "After the explanation, I had fewer suspicions about his intentions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It makes everything go smoother and there are less suspicions".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Many others, however, view Vlisco's Afro-European heritage with far less suspicion.

The New York Times

Since the benefit buys only food, it draws less suspicion of abuse than cash aid and more political support.

The New York Times

And Germany's dealings with Russia arouse less suspicion under Mrs Merkel than they did when Mr Schröder was chancellor.

The Economist

Soldiers tend to view scooter drivers with less suspicion because, unlike people in cars, their bodies are in plain sight.

The New York Times

He worries that once would-be terrorists had access to valid state driver's licenses, they would raise less suspicion.

The New York Times

The 28 colleges and universities promised to carry out the policies consistently, so there would be less confusion about the process and less suspicion about its equity.

The New York Times

The LTTE, and especially the PKK and Chechen terrorists, have preferred female bombers, because they attract, or used to attract, less suspicion.

The Economist

But South Korea has one advantage: other countries view it with less suspicion than they do China, since it is neither huge nor a dictatorship.

The Economist

Given their second-class citizenship in many of these countries, women generate less suspicion and are better able to conceal explosives.

The New York Times

Ending smallpox, the only disease to have been eliminated, was easier for at least two reasons: people travelled much less and there was far less suspicion of the motives of westerners bearing vials.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to suspicions, which are countable, use "fewer" instead of "less". For instance, say "fewer suspicions arose" instead of "less suspicions arose".

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns like "suspicions", "concerns", or "doubts". The correct quantifier is "fewer". Using "less" in these cases is a common grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less suspicions" functions as a noun phrase intended to quantify the amount of doubt or mistrust. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "suspicions" is a countable noun. Ludwig AI flags this issue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less suspicions" is grammatically incorrect, though it appears in various sources. As Ludwig AI indicates, "suspicions" is a countable noun and requires the quantifier "fewer". While the intent is generally understood to mean a reduction in doubt or mistrust, it's advisable to use phrases like "fewer suspicions", "reduced suspicion", or "less distrust" for clarity and grammatical accuracy. These alternatives ensure more precise and polished writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer suspicions

Replaces "less" with "fewer" to correctly quantify the countable noun "suspicions".

reduced suspicion

Uses "reduced" to indicate a decrease in the overall level of suspicion.

less distrust

Substitutes "suspicions" with "distrust" while maintaining a similar connotation.

diminished doubts

Employs "diminished" to suggest a lessening of doubts or uncertainties.

waning skepticism

Indicates a decrease in skepticism or questioning attitude.

declining apprehensions

Implies a decrease in feelings of worry or unease.

mitigated uncertainties

Suggests that uncertainties have been reduced or alleviated.

alleviated reservations

Indicates a lessening of hesitations or concerns.

softened misgivings

Emphasizes a milder form of doubt or apprehension.

eased worries

Suggests a reduction in feelings of worry or anxiety.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "less suspicions"?

No, it is not correct. "Suspicions" is a countable noun, so you should use "fewer" instead of "less". The correct phrase is "fewer suspicions".

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

"Less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time), while "fewer" is used with countable nouns (e.g., fewer cars, fewer people). Since "suspicions" are countable, you should use "fewer suspicions".

What can I say instead of "less suspicions"?

Instead of "less suspicions", you can use alternatives like "fewer suspicions", "reduced suspicion", or "less distrust", depending on the intended meaning.

How do I use "fewer suspicions" in a sentence?

You can use "fewer suspicions" in a sentence like this: "After the explanation, there were "fewer suspicions" about his motives."