less than annual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than annual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or occurrence that happens more frequently than once a year but less frequently than every month. Example: "The company holds less than annual meetings to discuss progress and future goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

If total debt is less than annual income, the borrower will be able to repay the student loans in 10 years or less.

The New York Times

Lavin portrayed himself as the victim of unrealistic expectations among U.C.L.A. fans, who he claimed found unacceptable anything less than annual trips to the Final Four.

The New York Times - Sports

When paired by tillage and landscape position, annual runoff from ST was significantly less than annual runoff from CT (p = 0.025).

Agricultural Water Management

Thus, even if annual PrEP does indeed cost four times less than annual ART, expanding ART would still prove more effective in terms of cost per infection averted.

Plosone

Thus, although our indicator is a single number, it evaluates changes in TB incidence relative to HIV prevalence over a period of n years, where n could be 1 but may be larger if data are collected on a less than annual basis or if averaging over a longer period is desirable (or necessary to smooth the data).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Less-than-annual cervical cancer screening is now recommended for most US women, raising questions about the need for routine annual bimanual pelvic examinations.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Nonetheless, the consistency between isotope-balance and water-budget results indicates that this is a viable approach for lakes in similar settings, allowing the magnitude of groundwater inflow to be estimated over less-than-annual time periods.

Journal of Hydrology

Notwithstanding this, in many regions, salinisation processes will continue because the available perennial options are less profitable than annual cropping.

Agricultural Water Management

Pan evaporation is less variable than annual precipitation and approximates 2000 mm in the plains of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Carbon Balance and Management

Limit yearly gifts to less than the annual exclusion, which is $13,000 for 2011.

WikiHow

Public hospitals were divided into 2 subgroups: small hospitals with less than 30 annual operations, and large hospitals with 30 or more annual operations.

Acta Orthopaedica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing frequencies, clarify the specific timeframe being considered. For example, instead of saying "less than annual reviews", specify "bi-annual reviews" or "reviews every six months" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating the frequency or interval. Saying something occurs "less than annual" can be vague; specify if it's bi-annual, quarterly, or another defined period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than annual" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that something occurs with a frequency that is lower than once per year. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in contexts like income, rainfall, or operational frequency.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

56%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than annual" is a comparative phrase used to indicate that something occurs less frequently than once a year. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, including science, news, and general media. While the phrase itself is neutral in register, it's crucial to provide specific timeframes to avoid ambiguity. When discussing frequencies, be precise about whether you mean bi-annual, quarterly, or another defined period. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, demonstrating its widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Less often than annually

A straightforward rephrasing emphasizing the reduced frequency.

Sub-annual

Focuses on timeframes shorter than a year, often in scientific or technical contexts.

At a rate of less than once per year

Specifies the rate of occurrence in relation to a year.

Less frequent than yearly

Emphasizes the reduced frequency compared to an annual event.

Not as often as once a year

Clearly states the infrequency relative to an annual occurrence.

Infrequent relative to annual events

Highlights the relative infrequency compared to events that happen annually.

At intervals exceeding one year

Highlights the duration between occurrences being longer than a year.

Biennial or less

Specifies 'biennial' as the upper limit, implying infrequency.

Shorter than a year

Focuses on the duration and the lack of annual frequency.

Occurring less than every 365 days

Defines the timeframe numerically in relation to a year.

FAQs

What does "less than annual" mean?

The phrase "less than annual" indicates that something occurs at intervals shorter than a year, but not necessarily on a regular basis. Depending on context you may consider "sub-annual".

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

You might say, "The company conducts performance reviews on a "less frequent than yearly" basis, typically every six months."

What's the difference between "less than annual" and "biannual"?

"Less than annual" simply means not every year. "Biannual" usually implies twice a year or every two years, and it's often better to use "semi-annual" to mean twice a year.

Which is correct: "less than annual" or "not annual"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "less than annual" implies a frequency shorter than once a year, while "not annual" simply means it doesn't happen every year. It's a matter of precision for the specific meaning you're aiming to convey. It's a matter of precision for the specific meaning you're aiming to convey, and it can be more effective to use an alternative like "infrequent relative to annual events".