less than once

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than once" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs fewer times than a single instance, often in contexts discussing frequency or occurrence. Example: "He has visited the museum less than once in the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He got into the city less than once a week.

The New York Times

It forms less than once a month, he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Ginsburg typically did this less than once a year.

The New Yorker

"Less than once a month, quite infrequently," she says.

The Guardian

Almost half who died exercised less than once a week.

The New York Times - Health

And the figures are undoubtedly shaming – 17% of old people have contact with friends, family and neighbours less than once a week, 11% less than once a month.

The Guardian - Opinion

It had happened only three times in her life, less than once a decade.

The New Yorker

70% of methamphetamine users consume ice less than once a month.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

'less than once a month' and 'never'never

BMC Medical Education

Additional options were 'every day'at'at least once a week' or 'less than once a week'.

BMJ Open

Adolescents who smoked 'less than once a week' or more often were considered to be cigarette smokers.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the frequency of events or actions, use "less than once" to clearly indicate that the occurrence is rarer than a single instance within a given time frame. For clarity, specify the time frame (e.g., "less than once a week", "less than once a month").

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by always specifying the timeframe when using "less than once". Saying simply "He visits less than once" is unclear. Instead, specify "He visits less than once a year" for better comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than once" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. According to Ludwig AI, it specifies the frequency or rate at which an action or event occurs. This is evident in examples like "Ginsburg typically did this less than once a year."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than once" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that an event occurs infrequently within a specified timeframe. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to denote a frequency lower than a single instance. While versatile, it's crucial to provide a timeframe to avoid ambiguity. It appears frequently in scientific and news contexts and may also appear in formal or informal contexts. Alternatives like "rarely" or "almost never" can be used for emphasis. Ensuring clarity and specifying the relevant time frame are key to effectively using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not even once

Stresses the absence of even a single occurrence.

almost never

Emphasizes the rarity to the point of near non-existence.

infrequently

Focuses on the low frequency of the action.

rarely

Highlights the uncommon nature of the event.

hardly ever

Conveys that the event is infrequent, but not entirely absent.

seldom

Implies that something happens infrequently, with a slightly old-fashioned tone.

scarcely ever

Similar to 'hardly ever', but slightly more emphatic.

on rare occasions

Indicates that something happens only a few times.

not frequently

A more formal way of expressing low frequency.

sporadically

Indicates that something occurs irregularly and infrequently.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less than once" to emphasize the infrequency?

You can use alternatives like "rarely", "almost never", or "not even once" to stress the rarity, depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "fewer than once" instead of "less than once"?

While "less than" is generally used for uncountable nouns, in this context, "less than once" is the idiomatic and accepted phrase for indicating a frequency of less than one occurrence. "Fewer than once" is grammatically questionable and less commonly used.

How do I use "less than once" in a sentence?

You can use "less than once" to describe how often an event happens, such as "I go to the gym "less than once a week"" or "She contacts her family "less than once a month"".

What's the difference between "less than once a week" and "more than once a week"?

"Less than once a week" means something happens fewer times than once in a seven-day period, while "more than once a week" means it happens multiple times within that week.