less than fair

USAGE SUMMARY

"less than fair" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not fair or just. For example: "After the referees made their call, the outcome of the game seemed less than fair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

This was less than fair.

The Guardian

"They deserve nothing less than fair compensation".

The New York Times

This, however, would be less than fair to Abramovich.

The Guardian - Sport

Simpson is never less than fair on this issue.

The Guardian - Books

But to bind possessions up closely with the mind is less than fair to both.

The New Yorker

Dumping occurs when a company sells a product in another country at less than fair value.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

In the first vote, held on April 9th after a less-than-fair campaign, Mr Fujimori faced a strong challenge from Alejandro Toledo, a centrist economist.

The Economist

The inclusion of the misclassified diagnosis in the models favored those hospitals that codified in a less-than-fair manner.

BMC Public Health

In reality, however, Mr. Roberto and his brother were the recipients of a "sweetheart deal" that allowed them to pay $70 a month rent to the town of Greenwich, much less than fair-market rates, according to Carl Rosa, supervisor of rail property management for the State Department of Transportation.

The New York Times

Participants felt more angry to unfair human offers than to unfair computer offers, t 50) = 3.24, p <.01, but did not differ for human and computer fair offers, t < 1. Participants rated unfair offers as less fair than fair offers, F 1, 50) = 424.51, p <.001.

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience

"Simply put: we pay more than our fair share, we get back less than our fair share.... It's been going on too long, it's wrong, and it's time we put an end to it".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than fair", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard of fairness is being violated. Provide specific details to support your claim and avoid vague assertions.

Common error

Avoid using "less than fair" when the situation is clearly and significantly unjust. In such cases, stronger terms like "unjust", "biased", or "discriminatory" may be more appropriate to accurately reflect the severity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than fair" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe something that does not meet the expected standards of fairness or justice. It is often used to express a mild disapproval or criticism, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than fair" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that falls short of perfect fairness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for use in written English across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, and also in science and formal business settings, it carries a neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the specific context makes clear what aspect of fairness is lacking. While similar to "unfair", "less than fair" suggests a milder degree of injustice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather unfair

Uses a different adverb to express a similar degree of unfairness.

not completely impartial

Directly states the absence of complete neutrality.

not fully just

Emphasizes the absence of complete justice.

somewhat unjust

Implies a degree of unfairness but softens the statement.

somewhat inequitable

Highlights the lack of fairness in distribution or outcome.

not entirely equitable

Emphasizes the lack of equal treatment or opportunity.

a bit biased

Focuses on the presence of prejudice or favoritism.

slightly partial

Suggests a mild inclination towards one side.

marginally unfair

Indicates a small degree of unfairness.

a touch unfair

Minimizes the perceived degree of unfairness.

FAQs

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

You can use "less than fair" to describe situations, decisions, or treatments that do not meet an acceptable standard of fairness. For example, "The trial's outcome seemed "less than fair" to the defendant."

What phrases are similar to "less than fair"?

Alternatives include "somewhat unjust", "a bit biased", or "not entirely equitable". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "less than fair" in formal writing?

Yes, "less than fair" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure your argument is well-supported and that the context makes the meaning clear.

What's the difference between "less than fair" and "unfair"?

"Less than fair" suggests a milder degree of injustice compared to "unfair". /s/Unfair implies a more significant departure from what is right or just, while "less than fair" suggests something falls short of perfect fairness but isn't necessarily grossly unjust.