less than one grade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than one grade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing academic performance, grading systems, or comparisons of scores. Example: "The student achieved a score that was less than one grade below the passing mark."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

FMR reduction at 12 months ranged from three grades for three patients, two grades for five patients, one grade for 12 patients, and less than one grade for five patients.

European Journal of Heart Failure

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If more than one grade was documented on the same day, the higher grade was used.

Cancer Medicine

But more than 15,000 were more than one grade out.

The Guardian

For this study, the severity of ILD was visually assessed on chest CT images and classified for its vertical extent referring to the previous established method 20: grade 0, ILD not determined; grade 1, ILD extended less than one-third; grade 2, extended more than one-third but less than two-thirds; and grade 3, extended more than two-thirds (figure 1).

BMJ Open

Two of the patients (SPN 3822 and 3838) that developed grade I acute GVHD of the skin responded to a less than one week course of corticosteroid therapy.

Bone Marrow Transplantation

Grade 1: small straight varices; Grade 2: enlarged tortuous varices, occupying less than one third of the lumen; Grade 3: large, coil-shaped varices, occupying more than one third of the lumen.

BioMed Research International

While class sizes went up in all grades in the past year — generally by slightly less than one student per class — increases were larger in major high school subjects.

The New York Times

Grade 1, hyphema filling less than one third of the anterior chamber (AC); grade 2, hyphema filling one third to one half of the AC; grade 3, hyphema filling more than half of the AC, but less than the total; and grade 4, total hyphema with either red or black blood clots.

BMC Ophthalmology

Due to the long follow-up period of the study cohort, oestrogen receptor status for both tumours were available for less than half of the patients, and histological grade for less than one third.

BMC Cancer

For instance, at (theta =0), COV, MD, and SPT with grey relational grades of one are ranked in the second, third, and fourth places, respectively, while GCMD, VALUE, and LPT with grey relational grades of less than one are ranked in the ninth, eighth, and sixth places, respectively (Tables 4, 6).

Complex & Intelligent Systems

During its last year before closing, less than one in five students at Williams performed at grade level, she said, yet many teachers appeared complacent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "less than one grade", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes a "grade" (e.g., letter grade, numerical grade, performance level). For instance, specify "less than one letter grade" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying the type of grade being referenced. For example, stating simply "less than one grade" can be confusing if it's unclear whether you mean a letter grade (A, B, C), a numerical grade (e.g., a point on a 100-point scale), or a qualitative grade (e.g., excellent, good, fair).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than one grade" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, typically describing a measurement or quantity that falls slightly below a single unit of a specified grade. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than one grade" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a value or level that is slightly below a specified grading threshold. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears in diverse contexts, including science, news, and formal business communications, though most frequently in scientific publications. When using this phrase, it is important to specify the type of "grade" being referenced (e.g., letter grade, numerical grade) to avoid ambiguity. Common alternatives include "slightly below one grade" and "marginally under one grade". Its register ranges from neutral to formal, reflecting its use in professional and academic domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly below one grade

Indicates a small difference from a specific grading level.

a fraction below one grade

Emphasizes that the difference is only a small part of a grade.

marginally under one grade

Highlights a minor deficiency in achieving a certain grade.

just shy of one grade

Suggests that the value is close to, but not quite, a full grade.

less than a full grade

Clarifies that the amount is smaller than what constitutes a complete grade.

not quite one grade

Expresses that the level is approaching but has not reached the standard of one grade.

a little less than one grade

Indicates a small reduction from the expected grade.

somewhat below one grade

Suggests a moderate difference compared to achieving a full grade.

lower than one grade

Directly states that the grade achieved is inferior to a specific grading level.

below the one grade threshold

Emphasizes that the amount falls under a particular boundary or requirement.

FAQs

How can I use "less than one grade" in a sentence?

You can use "less than one grade" to describe a score or level that is slightly below a specific grading threshold. For example, "The student's score was "less than one grade" below the passing mark."

What phrases are similar to "less than one grade"?

Similar phrases include "slightly below one grade", "marginally under one grade", or "just shy of one grade". These alternatives express a similar idea of being slightly below a defined grading level.

Is it correct to say "below one grade" instead of "less than one grade"?

Yes, "below one grade" is a correct and often more concise alternative to "less than one grade". Both phrases convey the same meaning, indicating that a score or level is lower than a specific grade.

In what contexts is "less than one grade" commonly used?

"Less than one grade" is commonly used in educational settings, performance evaluations, or any situation where levels or scores are being compared against defined grading criteria. It's used to express a small deficiency or difference in performance.