less than accurate

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is not entirely accurate or close enough to being accurate. For example: "His description of the situation was less than accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

(The predictions turned out to be somewhat less than accurate).

The Guardian - Opinion

Others that he was less than accurate on his application the year before.

The Guardian - Sport

Corwin said that even when the system worked, it was "cumbersome and sometimes less than accurate".

The New York Times - Sports

Other aspects of Novick's formally posted work history appear less than accurate.

The New York Times - Sports

He said that he wanted to question Mr. Randal because he felt his story was "less than accurate".

The New York Times

He played between 1905 and 1932, in an era when record keeping was less than accurate and sometimes nonexistent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

When do seeding strategies based on less-than-accurate link prediction provide valuable insight?

Computational Social Networks

The app was downloaded over 10 million times in 48 hours, with partial credit for the spike going to Apple's less-than-accurate Maps product.

TechCrunch

It is an attempt by administration after administration to whitewash the crimes of the U.S. government against Muslims by painting a less-than-accurate picture of their relationship with the American Muslim community.

Huffington Post

It's less than 33% accurate.' ".

The New York Times

"The entire presentation aims for nothing less than an accurate rendering of the match-day experience, as seen on your TV," says the video game critic Steve Burns.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less than accurate" when you want to soften the criticism or avoid stating something is completely wrong. It implies a degree of inaccuracy without being overly harsh.

Common error

Avoid using "less than accurate" as a way to obscure the truth. If you know something is false, be direct instead of using vague language that downplays the severity of the inaccuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than accurate" functions as an adjectival modifier, qualifying a noun or pronoun by indicating a deficiency in accuracy. Ludwig AI shows many examples across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than accurate" is a common and versatile way to express that something isn't completely correct, without being overly critical. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and widely used in various contexts, from news and media to science and encyclopedias. It's essential to remember that while "less than accurate" can soften a statement, it shouldn't be used to obscure the truth. Consider alternative phrases like "somewhat inaccurate" or "not entirely accurate" depending on the desired level of formality and directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat inaccurate

Replaces "less than" with "somewhat", suggesting a slight degree of inaccuracy.

not entirely accurate

Emphasizes the lack of complete accuracy using a more direct negation.

partially incorrect

Focuses on the presence of incorrect elements rather than the absence of complete accuracy.

not quite precise

Highlights a lack of precision or exactness.

containing inaccuracies

Shifts the focus to the presence of specific inaccuracies.

a bit off

Uses a more informal expression to indicate a slight deviation from accuracy.

not perfectly true

Emphasizes the deviation from absolute truth.

imprecise to some degree

Highlights the lack of precision with a slightly more formal tone.

off the mark

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a failure to achieve accuracy.

a far cry from accurate

Emphasizes a significant difference from being accurate.

FAQs

How can I use "less than accurate" in a sentence?

You can use "less than accurate" to describe information, statements, or data that are not entirely correct. For example: "His description of the event was "less than accurate", but it captured the general idea."

What's a more formal way to say "less than accurate"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "somewhat inaccurate", "not entirely accurate", or "partially incorrect".

Is it better to say "inaccurate" or "less than accurate"?

While "inaccurate" is more direct, "less than accurate" can be used to soften the statement or imply that the information has some truth to it, but is not entirely correct. The choice depends on the specific context and the desired tone.

What is the difference between "less than accurate" and "misleading"?

"Less than accurate" suggests unintentional errors or slight deviations from the truth, whereas "misleading" implies an intent to deceive or create a false impression.