less time than

USAGE SUMMARY

"less time than" is an acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to compare two different periods of time. For example: "I managed to complete the job in less time than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The trial took less time than expected.

The New York Times

This reaction takes far less time than tanning.

Harvard University

Faculty took less time than residents to perform both procedures.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

APP removed dental plaques in less time than RCP.

Orthodontic Waves

"And it's taken significantly less time than we anticipated".

The New York Times

The entire process takes less time than preheating the oven.

The New York Times - Style

"It takes less time than flying," he said.

The New York Times

Cameron says people are waiting less time than under Labour.

The Guardian

"Women have babies in less time than that".

The New York Times

Alas, we had even less time than we thought.

The Guardian - Books

It takes less time than a standard eye exam.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing timeframes, ensure clarity by specifying both activities or events being compared to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of just saying "It takes "less time than" you think", specify what it takes less time than.

Common error

A common mistake is not clearly defining what you are comparing the time to. Avoid vague comparisons; always specify the reference point to ensure the statement is meaningful and clear to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less time than" functions as a comparative, used to indicate that one action, event, or process requires a shorter duration compared to another. Ludwig's examples show this structure used to contrast time investments in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

12%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less time than" is a common and grammatically sound comparative expression used to indicate that something takes a shorter duration compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage across various contexts. As evidenced by the numerous examples available in Ludwig, this phrase is frequently employed in news articles, academic papers, and other forms of communication to emphasize efficiency or brevity. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify what you're comparing the time to, and using related phrases like "shorter duration than" or "quicker than" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shorter duration than

Focuses on the length of time being shorter.

not as long as

Simple and direct way to express the comparison.

quicker than

Emphasizes the speed of completing something.

more rapidly than

Highlights a faster pace or rate.

sooner than

Indicates something happening earlier in time.

a briefer period than

Uses more formal language to refer to a short time.

a reduced timeframe compared to

Formal and emphasizes comparison of timeframes.

less extensive period than

More formal phrasing using "extensive" to describe time.

takes up fewer hours than

Focuses on the number of hours consumed.

consumes less clock time than

Technical phrasing referring to measured clock time.

FAQs

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

Use "less time than" to compare the duration of two activities or events, indicating one takes a shorter amount of time. For example, "Completing this task requires "less time than" I initially anticipated."

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

You can use phrases like "shorter duration than", "quicker than", or "not as long as" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "less time than" or should I use "fewer time than"?

"Less time than" is correct because "time" is generally treated as an uncountable noun. "Fewer" is used with countable nouns.

What's the difference between "less time than" and "more quickly than"?

"Less time than" focuses on the duration, while "more quickly than" emphasizes the speed or rate at which something is done. For example, "The process took "less time than" expected" versus "The process was completed "more quickly than" expected".