less than short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than short" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not just short, but even shorter than what is typically considered short. Example: "The meeting was less than short, lasting only five minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In addition, longer paths are weighted less than short paths.

Computational Social Networks

Overall, irregular legal status seems to constrain remitting less than short returns: the proportion of Senegalese migrants who remit is never under 50%%, whatever the destinations and legal-status categories (Table 1).

Comparative Migration Studies

The choice of a one-week period reflected our intent to understand labor substitution for moderate periods of depression absence (e.g., absences more than a 'mental health day' and less than short term disability).

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They're now yielding much less than short-term bonds.

The Economist

The 3-mo, long-term reproducibility of body composition estimates from DXA was only slightly less than short-term reproducibility for both software versions (coefficient of variation [CV] range from 1.3% for BMC weight to 11.0% for arm fat).

Journal of Clinical Densitometry

But, as the Enron scandal demonstrated, reputation often matters less than short-term gain, and it also cuts both ways: turning a blind eye to questionable numbers can be a good way to get new business.

The New Yorker

In addition, the amount of the light scattering by the pigment particles is inversely proportional to wavelength, and so the longer infrared wavelengths are scattered less than shorter visible wavelengths.

Heritage Science

The film's final cut was less than shorter than most contemporaneous Tamil films.

Wikipedia

Chromatic aberration arises from the same principle by which a prism divides white light into its spectral components: refraction is wavelength-dependent where longer wavelengths are refracted less than shorter.

Plosone

In our study, tall subjects had lower BMI, whereas tall women smoked more and tall men smoked less than shorter individuals.

Cancer Causes and Control

Moreover, this rapid evaporation means long trails are less attractive than short ones, all else being equal.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you wish to express that you are slightly below a goal, such as “less than 100 dollars short” be careful, because in such cases less than will mean that your shortage is not even a full dollar. You might wish to clarify by mentioning that your shortage is “almost 100 dollars” or you could write “just below 100 dollars.”

Common error

Avoid using "less than short" when a simpler comparative like "shorter" or "smaller" suffices. The phrase is most effective when you want to emphasize an extreme degree of shortness or brevity. For instance, in most cases, saying "the line is shorter" is better than "the line is less than short".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than short" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, emphasizing a degree of shortness beyond the typical understanding of 'short'. It's used to highlight that something is exceptionally brief or small. Ludwig indicates its correctness but also its relative infrequency.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than short" is a grammatically correct but uncommon comparative adjective phrase used to emphasize extreme brevity or smallness. As Ludwig indicates, it is valid, but its rarity suggests considering more conventional alternatives like "shorter than average" or "extremely brief" for clearer communication. It functions to highlight an exceptional degree of shortness, and while not strictly formal, its effectiveness lies in specific contexts where emphasis is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shorter than average

Emphasizes the comparison to a typical or expected length.

smaller in length

Focuses on the physical dimension of length being reduced.

brief

Highlights the concise nature of something, particularly in duration or extent.

of reduced size

General description of diminished dimensions.

compressed in length

Suggests a shortening achieved through compression or squeezing.

minuscule in duration

Implies a very small amount of time.

of limited extent

Refers to a reduced scope or range.

curtailed in length

Suggests an intentional shortening or reduction.

more concise

Emphasizes brevity and efficiency in expression.

extremely brief

Highlights the very short nature of something.

FAQs

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

The phrase "less than short" can be used to emphasize the extreme brevity or smallness of something. For example, "The meeting was "less than short", lasting only five minutes".

What are some alternatives to saying "less than short"?

Alternatives include "shorter than average", "extremely brief", or simply "brief", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While grammatically correct, "less than short" is not always the most elegant choice for formal writing. Consider whether a more straightforward term like "concise" or "abbreviated" might be more suitable.

Which is correct, "less than short" or "shorter than short"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "less than short" is more common. "Shorter than short" is used when you want to be even more emphatic, for example when referring to something with a minuscule size or duration.