less then one minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less then one minute" is not correct; it should be "less than one minute." You can use it when referring to a duration of time that is shorter than one minute.
Example: "The video is less than one minute long, making it perfect for a quick overview."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For instance, the pool of hsp70 in huntingtin aggregates is replaced by cytosolic hsp70 within less then one minute [36].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Then one minute.

The Washington Post

"Once the customer opens up the app, the initial Iota's location would typically appear in less than one minute and then can be updated more frequently (around every 20 seconds)  as they are searching for their pet for example".

TechCrunch

The system is easy to use, requiring less than one minute of hands-on time.

Forensic Science International: Genetics

County had substitute Stuart Kettlewell sent off less then a minute after coming on.

The Guardian - Sport

The simulated temperature increase lasts less than one minute.

Nature

Using an optimized GPU implementation predictions can be achieved in less than one minute.

NeuroImage

The judge kept him waiting less than one minute.

The Guardian

The detection less than one minute after injection made possible fast analysis for histamine.

Talanta

It takes less than one minute and has instant results.

BBC

It was for just an instant, less than one minute.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "than" for comparisons. Remember, "than" is for comparing, and "then" is for sequencing events. To ensure clarity, double-check your word choice when indicating time or quantity.

Common error

Avoid using "then" when you mean "than" in comparative sentences. "Then" indicates sequence, while "than" indicates comparison. For example, use "less than one minute" to show comparison, not "less then one minute".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less then one minute" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by indicating the duration of an action or state. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig indicates that the correct form is "less than one minute".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

56%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less then one minute" is an incorrect comparative phrase. The correct form is "less than one minute", which is used to describe a duration shorter than 60 seconds. As Ludwig AI indicates, the error stems from the confusion between "then" and "than"; "than" is for comparisons, while "then" denotes sequence. Although examples of the incorrect phrase exist, they are infrequent. To avoid this error, remember that "than" is used for comparisons. There are more correct alternative options such as "under a minute" or "within a minute".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than a minute

Corrects the grammatical error by using "than" instead of "then", indicating a comparison.

under a minute

Uses "under" as a preposition to indicate a duration shorter than one minute.

within a minute

Indicates that something occurs before a minute has passed.

shorter than a minute

Emphasizes the comparative shortness of the duration.

not a full minute

Highlights that the duration does not reach the threshold of one minute.

under 60 seconds

Specifies the duration in seconds to be less than 60.

within 60 seconds

Expresses that the event takes place before 60 seconds elapse.

in under a minute

Combines "in" and "under" to specify that something occurs in a time less than a minute.

in a fraction of a minute

Highlights the brevity of the period using "fraction".

briefly

Uses an adverb to broadly describe something lasting a short time.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "less then one minute"?

No, the correct phrasing is "less than one minute". The word "than" is used for comparisons, while "then" is used to indicate a sequence of events.

What's the difference between "less then" and "less than"?

"Less than" is a comparative phrase used to indicate a quantity or degree is smaller. "Less then" is a misspelling. Always use "than" for comparisons such as "less than 50", "less than expected", or "less than one minute".

What are some alternatives to "less then one minute"?

You can use phrases such as "under a minute", "within a minute", or "shorter than a minute" to convey a similar meaning.

How can I remember the difference between "then" and "than"?

A helpful tip is to associate "than" with comparison, as both words have the letter 'a'. Think: "I am better than you". For "then", associate it with time or sequence, as in "First do this, then do that".