less than two times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than two times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity or frequency that is below two occurrences or units of measurement. Example: "The experiment was conducted less than two times to ensure accuracy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Confinement affects interfacial tension measurement when the gap between the walls is less than two times the equilibrium drop size.

Polymer

The best predictor of recovery for adults with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) was a frequency of compensatory behaviors less than two times a month.

Stanford University

The distance between the cavern and the adjacent vertical fault in Jintan salt mine should be no less than two times the maximum cavern diameter.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

The majority of DEGs were distributed within the range of two to ten times fold change, while only a few varied less than two times fold change.

Nature

The U.S. spent nearly five times what China did, but had less than two times as many researchers (1.3 million to 743,000).

The New York Times - Magazine

I specifically remember calling private lenders and telling them that the average home price in Woodbridge, Va., had dropped to less than two times the average household income.

The Washington Post

If the distance between a crack tip and the imperfect interface is less than two times of the crack length, the shielding or anti-shielding effect is remarkable, and otherwise it is negligible.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

"The board recommends a dividend holiday until group borrowings have reverted to less than two times bank EBITDA [earnings before, interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation], which we anticipate happening at the beginning of the 2013 financial year," the company said.

The Guardian

For example, states have to show that they have already enrolled 95percentt of children whose parents make less than two times the poverty line figure — a standard that Ms. Bachrach said no state in the country could meet.

The New York Times

A person making a gross income of less than two times the federal poverty level (below about $22,000 for a single person) may only have enough available on a weekly basis to pay for food, shelter and clothing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Especially, at 5 MHz, [ΔZ/Z0]max of SPCA-treated wire increases to 185.81%, which is 2.5 times of 73.69% for as-cast wire, and ξmax of SPCA-treated wire increases to 346.65%/Oe by less than two times of 190.16%/Oe for as-cast wire.

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than two times", ensure the context clearly defines what is being multiplied or compared. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "less than two times" when you actually mean "more than two times". Double-check your comparison to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than two times" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating frequency or quantity. It modifies a verb or noun to specify that something occurs or exists below a certain threshold, as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than two times" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate a quantity or frequency below double a specified value. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across diverse contexts, primarily in scientific and news-related domains. When writing, clarity is key: ensure that the context clearly defines what is being multiplied or compared to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "fewer than two times" or "not more than twice" can add variety to your writing while maintaining accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer than two times

Replaces "less" with "fewer", emphasizing the numerical aspect.

less than double

Simple and direct alternative, focusing on the concept of doubling.

not more than twice

Uses a different structure to convey the upper limit.

not exceeding twice

Similar to "not more than twice", but slightly more formal.

lower than double

Uses "lower" to convey the quantity aspect.

under twofold

A more formal and concise way to say "less than two times".

smaller than twice

Focuses on the comparative size.

below a factor of two

Expresses the relationship as a factor or multiple.

at most twice

Indicates a maximum limit of two times.

a maximum of twice

Another option to indicate a maximum limit of two times.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less than two times"?

Alternatives include "fewer than two times", "not more than twice", or "below a factor of two", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less than two times"?

Yes, "less than two times" is grammatically correct and widely used in various types of writing, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

In what contexts is "less than two times" typically used?

"Less than two times" is used across diverse fields like science, news reporting, and business to describe quantities or frequencies, particularly when making comparisons or setting limits.

What's the difference between "less than two times" and "at most twice"?

"Less than two times" indicates a value below twice the reference, while "at most twice" implies a maximum limit that can be equal to or below twice the reference. The distinction depends on whether the upper limit includes the value of 'two times'.