less than several

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than several" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a quantity that is fewer than what would typically be considered "several," which usually implies more than two but not many. Example: "The survey received less than several responses, making it difficult to draw any conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its cost would not have been less than several million pounds.

The Guardian

AC loss due to external magnetic field is also limited to less than several watts.

Cryogenics

It is suggested that FU Orionis outbursts primarily occur to systems during the embedded phase with ages less than several times 105 yr.

Harvard University

Less than several mill in the bank, a private income and a child at one of the most highly selective state schools in the country.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, Labour slowly bleeds out, unable to offer anything like a functional opposition, not able even to have a meeting that lasts less than several hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

Her lawsuit accuses executives at Point72 of paying her substantially less than several "lesser-qualified" male peers, and of being generally reluctant to promote women at the firm.

The New Yorker

The Saudis have about 1.5 million barrels of additional production capacity that they can bring on in less than several weeks, if the need arises, he said.

The New York Times

So far, Bush's security costs are significantly less than several other candidates who travel with security details -- often at taxpayer expense.

The Washington Post

It also points out that only around 7percentnt of its funds are invested in defence companies, far less than several other venture capital groups.

The Guardian - Business

DC resistance of the lap-joint is typically designed less than several n-ohms and the allowable joule loss is several watts.

Cryogenics

In this sense, the so-called small particles, whose size is less than several nanometers, must be introduced into the molecular systems to be used.

Nanotechnology and Nano-Interface Controlled Electronic Devices

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For increased clarity, especially in formal writing, consider replacing "less than several" with more precise quantifiers like "fewer than four" or "only a few".

Common error

Avoid using "less than several" when you mean 'none' or 'zero'. "Less than several" implies there is still some quantity, just not as much as expected. Instead, use "no", "none", or "zero" for those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than several" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a quantity that is smaller than a small, indefinite number. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts. It helps to set an upper limit without being precise.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than several" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a quantity smaller than what is typically considered a few. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is employed across various contexts, including science and news media, serving to provide an approximate and often vague indication of quantity. While alternatives like "fewer than several" or "a few" may offer more precision, "less than several" remains a useful option when exactness is not required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer than several

Emphasizes countability; suitable when referring to discrete items.

not quite several

Highlights that the quantity is close to, but below, the threshold of "several".

a handful of

Indicates a small, indefinite number, suggesting it can be contained in one hand.

a few

A simpler and more common way to express a small quantity.

less than a handful

Combines the concepts of small quantity and a limited group.

a limited number of

Focuses on the restriction in quantity.

not exceeding several

Formal phrasing that stresses an upper limit.

under several

A concise way to indicate a quantity below a certain number.

less than some

Uses 'some' as an indefinite quantity, implying a relatively small amount.

a small number of

Directly states that the quantity is small.

FAQs

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

Use "less than several" to indicate a quantity that is smaller than what is considered to be a few. For instance, "The project took "less than several" weeks to complete."

What are some alternatives to "less than several"?

Alternatives include "fewer than several", "a few", or "a small number of", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "fewer than several" or "less than several"?

While both are acceptable, "fewer than several" is more precise when referring to countable items. "Less than several" is generally used with uncountable nouns, though this distinction is often blurred in practice.

What's the difference between "less than several" and "not many"?

"Less than several" is more specific, implying a quantity smaller than a small group. "Not many" is more general and can encompass a wider range of quantities. You could also use "only a few".