less than due

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than due" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing payments, obligations, or expectations that are not fully met. Example: "The payment received was less than due, prompting a follow-up with the client."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"In fact, they will have less than due influence.

The New York Times

If anything less than due process is delivered in this case, then justice will have been unduly denied".

The New York Times

Afterward, thanks to the industrious activity of photosynthesizing microorganisms such as cyanobacteria — whose modern descendants are often called, with less than due respect, pond scum — the air was full of free oxygen.

The New Yorker

That they really aren't going to put up the money to educate the 80,000 new students who join the state's public school systems every year (that number also takes into account the students who leave each year) and that schools will get $9.8 billion less than due under the Legislature's current financing formulas.

The New York Times

The angular error is less than ( due to noise) when the marker pitch is less than at 5 m.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The kappa statistic value range is therefore usually [0,1] but negative values are possible (indicating correct predictions are occurring less than due to chance).

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Fair share fees, which are less than dues, cover costs such as bargaining contracts that benefit all workers and representing workers who haven't joined the union but want it to file grievances for them against the company.

Huffington Post

Thus, we can deduce that the enhancement in the sensing performance due to increasing the wavelet filter order is less than that due to increasing the FFT size.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The pressures and forces exerted on the wall due to short crested waves are found to be less than that due to long crested waves.

Applied Ocean Research

Approximately 82% of the total variation in MFA was due to differences within the stem of a tree, with less than 15% due to differences among sites.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

To Brown, the ceremony seemed nothing less than his due.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than due", ensure the context clearly indicates what the 'due' amount or expectation refers to. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "less than due" in informal settings where simpler phrases like "not enough" or "under the expected amount" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than due" functions as a qualifier, indicating a deficiency or insufficiency relative to an expected or required amount. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples, where it often modifies nouns like "influence", "process", or "money".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than due" signifies that something is insufficient or falls short of what is expected or owed. While Ludwig identifies it as acceptable, it's not overly common. Its use spans various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding what the expected amount or obligation is to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases, such as "insufficient payment" or "below the required amount", may provide greater clarity in certain situations. As per Ludwig's analysis, "less than due" serves primarily to highlight a deficit, prompting further action or clarification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than what is owed

Replaces "due" with the explicit term "what is owed" for clarity.

smaller than the required amount

Emphasizes the insufficient quantity using the more direct term "required amount".

below the expected level

Focuses on unmet expectations rather than obligations.

under the stipulated quantity

Uses the formal word "stipulated" to highlight a contract or formal agreement.

not fully met

Offers a simpler, more concise way of expressing that something is incomplete.

deficient in payment

Highlights the deficiency specifically in the context of a payment.

insufficiently provided

Focuses on the lack of adequate provision.

less than the agreed-upon sum

Uses "agreed-upon sum" to indicate prior arrangement or contract.

a shortfall in obligations

Turns the phrase into a noun phrase indicating a deficit.

partially unfulfilled

Emphasizes the aspect of the duty or commitment not being completely fulfilled.

FAQs

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

You can use "less than due" to indicate that something is insufficient or below the expected amount. For example, "The payment received was "less than due", so we sent a reminder."

What are some alternatives to "less than due"?

Some alternatives include "insufficient payment", "below the required amount", or "underpaid", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "less than what is due" or "less than due"?

"Less than what is due" is more explicit and avoids ambiguity. However, "less than due" is acceptable if the context makes it clear what is owed.

What is the difference between "less than due" and "overdue"?

"Less than due" indicates that an amount is insufficient. "Overdue" means that something is late or past its deadline.