less to close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less to close" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect expression, and without context, it is difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "There is less to close on this deal than I initially thought."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By the time he left office, the federal government was doing far less to close the gap on income inequality than when he arrived.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The European and American refineries' new owners will be far less likely to close them than their old ones.

The Economist

If you ask me, Fogle really only sums up the point of doors, which is more or less exactly to close on the wilderness.

Independent

Technologically lagging firms, by contrast, are less likely to close R&D facilities in the face of these concerns and will prefer staying near leaders over laggards.

Research Policy

In relative terms, good/excellent rated homes are 2.5 times less likely to close.

Health Economics

It may also take less time to close.

WikiHow

Players were similarly unprepared to talk about a playoff-less season to close the Stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

The shares fell less than 1percenttoto close at 24.05 euros ($35.29) in Amsterdam.

The New York Times

They rose 9 cents, or less than 1percentto to close at $31.33 in regular trading Monday.

The New York Times - Tech

Shares of Coca-Cola Enterprises rose yesterday by just less than $1, to close at $18.4375.

The New York Times

But its interrogations function is less well known, even to close observers of Chicago police.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider if "fewer" is more appropriate than "less", especially when referring to countable items. For instance, use "fewer tasks to complete" instead of "less tasks to complete".

Common error

Avoid using "less" when you should be using "fewer". "Less" is for uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is for countable nouns. Saying "less problems" is incorrect; the correct phrase is "fewer problems".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less to close" appears to function as a reduced form intending to convey a smaller quantity or effort needed for completion. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as not correct in standard written English. The intended meaning often requires restructuring for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less to close" attempts to convey a reduction in the amount needed to finalize something, Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard and grammatically questionable. Its informal nature and the potential for misinterpretation necessitate the use of more precise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "fewer items to finalize" or "reduced tasks for completion". Attention to the proper use of "less" versus "fewer" and choosing clearer vocabulary will enhance the overall effectiveness of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer items to finalize

Focuses on the quantity of tasks needing completion, replacing "less" with "fewer" to align with countable nouns and "close" with "finalize" for clarity.

reduced tasks for completion

Highlights the decrease in tasks, substituting "less" with "reduced" and rephrasing "to close" as "for completion".

diminished items to conclude

Emphasizes the lessening of items, replacing "less" with "diminished" and "close" with "conclude".

fewer things to wrap up

Focuses on the quantity of tasks needing completion, replacing "less" with "fewer" to align with countable nouns and "close" with "wrap up" for informality.

smaller amount to resolve

Highlights a reduced quantity to be addressed, replacing "less" with "smaller amount" and "close" with "resolve".

less remaining to accomplish

Emphasizes the reduced amount of remaining work, rephrasing "to close" as "to accomplish".

decreased steps for finalization

Focuses on the reduction of steps needed, replacing "less" with "decreased" and "close" with "finalization".

shortened path to completion

Highlights a quicker route to finishing, rephrasing the original phrase to emphasize efficiency.

easier to bring to a conclusion

Shifts the focus to ease of completion, changing the structure and vocabulary while retaining the core idea.

more straightforward to complete

Indicates simplicity in finishing, altering the phrasing to highlight ease and directness.

FAQs

Is "less to close" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "less to close" is not standard written English and might be considered grammatically incorrect. Consider alternatives like "fewer items to finalize" or "less remaining to accomplish" depending on the intended meaning.

When should I use "fewer" instead of "less"?

"Fewer" should be used when referring to countable nouns (e.g., "fewer problems", "fewer tasks"), while "less" is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water", "less effort").

What are some alternatives to the phrase "less to close"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "fewer things to wrap up", "smaller amount to resolve", or "reduced tasks for completion".

How can I ensure I'm using "less" and "fewer" correctly?

A simple rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you can count the items. If you can count them, use "fewer"; if you can't, use "less". For example, "fewer errors" (errors can be counted) versus "less time" (time is uncountable).