less than notable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than notable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not particularly remarkable or significant. Example: "The film received a less than notable response from critics, indicating it did not meet expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

That an aspiring movie star should take two years off her age is less than notable; it's rather meek.

The New Yorker

The company hasn't lost money over the past several years, but its performance has been less than notable.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

With a few less-than-notable exceptions, agents have fallen out of the public consciousness.

Forbes

January found the tiny Jermyn Street Theatre (seating capacity 70) doing well by the author's all-but-unknown "Less Than Kind," an evening that was notable for giving the veteran supporting player Sara Crowe an overdue star turn.

The New York Times - Arts

Less Than Jake.

WikiHow

The Republican side is a clown car with no less than sixteen notables clamoring for attention and votes in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Huffington Post

Another possible explanation is that more information may be available online about less notable men than about less notable women.

EPJ Data Science

Yahoo! has primarily pursued smaller deals, usually spending less than $100 million in stock, with notable exceptions such as broadband content provider Broadcast.com and Web site community Geocities.

Forbes

But their competing policies were less notable than the care the three took to avoid any shade of prejudice.

The New York Times

But Ms. Gallagher's status at St . Annes, where she has been rector since 1996, is far less notable than her latest distinction.

The New York Times

That the Chicago Bears knocked them out of the playoffs in the next game was less notable than the fact that they had made it that far at all.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less than notable" to subtly downplay the significance of something without being overly critical. This can be particularly useful in professional or academic writing where a balanced tone is preferred.

Common error

Avoid stacking multiple negative phrases. Instead of saying something is "not less than notable", rephrase it to be more direct and positive, such as "quite significant" or "remarkable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than notable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is not particularly remarkable or significant. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than notable" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that isn't particularly remarkable. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not frequently used, it's appropriate for neutral contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. The key is to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse of negation for clarity and impact. When aiming for similar expressions, consider alternatives such as "somewhat insignificant" or "hardly remarkable" to convey a similar meaning with subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat insignificant

Emphasizes the lack of importance or consequence.

relatively unimportant

Highlights the comparative lack of importance in relation to other things.

hardly remarkable

Focuses on the lack of exceptional or noteworthy qualities.

barely noticeable

Stresses the difficulty in perceiving or paying attention to something.

scarcely significant

Emphasizes the minimal degree of importance or impact.

not particularly striking

Highlights the absence of visual appeal or impressiveness.

mildly unexceptional

Underlines the ordinariness and lack of special qualities.

faintly unimpressive

Focuses on the weak or subtle lack of impressiveness.

slightly underwhelming

Indicates a disappointing or less exciting experience than expected.

marginally inconsequential

Stresses the very small degree of importance or relevance.

FAQs

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

You can use "less than notable" to describe something that is not particularly remarkable or significant. For example: "The film received a "less than notable" response from critics, indicating it did not meet expectations."

What are some alternatives to "less than notable"?

Alternatives include "somewhat insignificant", "relatively unimportant", or "hardly remarkable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "less than notable" or "unremarkable"?

Both "less than notable" and "unremarkable" convey a similar meaning, but "less than notable" might be perceived as slightly more formal or understated. The choice depends on the tone and context of your writing.

Can "less than notable" be used in a positive context?

While it typically carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation, "less than notable" can be used in a positive context when contrasting it with something negative. For example, "The negative impact was "less than notable", suggesting the intervention was effective."