less than anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing outcomes or results that did not meet expectations or predictions. Example: "The sales figures for this quarter were less than anticipated, prompting a review of our marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, even this approach can prove difficult to implement safely and can result in hypoglycemia when the child eats significantly less than anticipated.

Diabetes Care

Austria and the Netherlands also earned far less than anticipated in auctions this year.

The New York Times

In January alone, the state took in $47 million less than anticipated.

The New York Times - Magazine

The number of potential jurors seeking hardship exemptions was "somewhat less" than anticipated, Judge Sand wrote.

The New York Times

Some studies have shown that savings are often less than anticipated.

The New York Times

New York City, for example, now expects to get about $100 million less than anticipated, and Rochester, $21 million less.

The New York Times

"To say you'll still get a tax break but it might be less than anticipated in the future is not necessarily retrospective".

The Guardian

Almost $1 million, far less than anticipated, has been collected from violators of New Jersey's E-ZPass toll system since its violations-processing center began operation last July.

The New York Times

Discover Financial Services gained 4percentto to $9.27, after it reported a smaller-than-expected operating loss as bad loans grew less than anticipated.

The New York Times

The business outside of China, which was the previous I.B.M. PC Division, in fact, shrunk a lot less than anticipated by industry experts.

The New York Times - Tech

She also picked up a pay packet far less than anticipated; "the equivalent of sofa change" compared with what Pitt and Cate Blanchett received.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone: "Less than anticipated" can sound formal. In casual writing, alternatives like "not as much as we thought" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "less than anticipated" without clearly specifying what was anticipated. For example, instead of saying "The results were less than anticipated", specify "The sales figures were less than anticipated based on last year's performance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than anticipated" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies nouns by describing a state of being below a previously expected level. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than anticipated" is a versatile and frequently used expression for indicating that an outcome or result did not meet prior expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It functions as an adjectival phrase, is suitable for neutral registers, and finds prevalent use in science, news, and business contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide clear context regarding what was originally anticipated to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "below expectations" or "underperformed" can be considered for stylistic variation. Be mindful to specify what the initial expectation was, ensuring clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

below expectations

Emphasizes the failure to meet a predefined level of expectation.

under expectations

Similar to "below expectations", focusing on not achieving the anticipated level.

disappointing results

Highlights the negative feeling associated with not meeting expectations.

fell short of projections

Focuses on the failure to achieve specific projected values.

worse than expected

Indicates a comparison to a predicted outcome that resulted in a poorer state.

did not meet forecasts

Emphasizes the failure to align with previously made predictions.

underperformed

A concise way to state that something did not achieve the expected level of performance.

lower than projected

Directly points to a numerical value being less than what was initially planned.

smaller than foreseen

Highlights a reduction in size or scope compared to what was predicted.

deficient compared to predictions

Formal expression noting a shortfall in comparison to stated predictions.

FAQs

What does "less than anticipated" mean?

The phrase "less than anticipated" means that something is smaller, fewer, or of a lower degree than what was expected or predicted beforehand. It suggests a discrepancy between expectation and reality.

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

You can use "less than anticipated" to describe situations where results or outcomes didn't meet expectations. For example: "The project's profits were "below expectations"", or "The damage from the storm was "not as severe as predicted"".

What are some alternatives to "less than anticipated"?

Some alternatives include "below expectations", "smaller than expected", "did not meet expectations", and "underperformed". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "less than anticipated" or "lower than anticipated"?

Both "less than anticipated" and "lower than anticipated" are grammatically correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Less than anticipated" is broader and can refer to quantity, quality, or degree, while "lower than anticipated" typically refers to numerical values or rankings.