less than that of

USAGE SUMMARY

"less than that of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to compare two things and show that the first thing is less than the second. For example: John's salary was less than that of his colleague, Jane.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He added: "Your culpability in the affray was considerably less than that of your co-defendants.

The Guardian - Music

Worse yet, its EV range is less than that of competitors, including the Nissan Leaf.

TechCrunch

Ireland's population is a little less than that of Atlanta.

The New York Times

Its mass is slightly less than that of the Sun, and its size a little less than that of Earth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The GWP of HFCs is less than that of CFCs because HFCs have shorter atmospheric lifetimes.

Harvard University

The median value in women's DC retirement accounts was one-third less than that of men.

University of California, Berkeley

The density of a raft is less than that of water, so it floats.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We offer flexible contingency fees that are often less than that of competing firms.

Cornell University

This risk is small however, and less than that of going un-tested for serious conditions.

Columbia University

The cost of grass road construction was 71.65% less than that of stone roads, with maintenance costs averaging 60.97% less than that of non-grass terrene roads.

Landscape and Urban Planning

The metabolic impact of progestin-only contraceptives is less than that of combined oral contraceptives.

Contraception

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing abstract concepts or qualities, using "less than that of" can provide a clear and concise comparison. For example: "The risk of this treatment is "less than that of" the alternative."

Common error

Avoid using "less than what" when "less than that of" is more appropriate for comparing nouns or noun phrases. "Less than what" is better suited for comparing clauses or actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than that of" functions as a comparative conjunction, linking two elements and indicating that the first is of a lower degree, quantity, or value than the second. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than that of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative conjunction, as Ludwig AI confirms. Predominantly found in scientific, academic, and news-related contexts, it serves to clearly establish a relationship of inferiority between two nouns or noun phrases. While alternatives like "smaller than that of" or "lower than that of" exist for stylistic variation, understanding the correct usage of "less than that of" ensures precision and formality in writing, particularly when discussing nuanced comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller than that of

Replaces "less" with "smaller", focusing on size or quantity.

lower than that of

Substitutes "less" with "lower", emphasizing a decrease in level or degree.

inferior to that of

Uses the more formal term "inferior" instead of "less", indicating a lower quality or status.

not as much as that of

Rephrases the comparison to highlight the difference in quantity or amount.

to a lesser extent than that of

Adds a degree of formality and precision to the comparison.

not quite as significant as that of

Emphasizes the difference in significance or importance.

somewhat smaller than that of

Incorporates "somewhat" to indicate a slight difference in size.

to a smaller degree than that of

Highlights the difference in degree or intensity.

a cut below that of

Uses a more informal idiom to express inferiority.

doesn't measure up to that of

Uses a colloquial expression to indicate that something is not as good.

FAQs

How can I use "less than that of" in a sentence?

Use "less than that of" to compare two nouns or noun phrases, indicating that the first is smaller, lower, or of a lesser degree than the second. For example, "His influence was "smaller than that of" his predecessor."

What are some alternatives to "less than that of"?

Alternatives include "smaller than that of", "lower than that of", or "inferior to that of", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "less than that of" in formal writing?

Yes, "less than that of" is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing when used to make a clear comparison between two nouns or noun phrases. Be aware of overuse and eventually consider the usage of shorter alternatives.

What is the difference between "less than" and "less than that of"?

"Less than" can be used in broader contexts, while "less than that of" is specifically used to compare two distinct nouns or noun phrases, providing a more precise and formal comparison. It avoids ambiguity by explicitly stating what is being compared.