less up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less up" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers due to its ambiguity. Example: "I need you to be less up about the situation" does not make sense in context.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"We're less up and down".

The New York Times - Sports

But it does not mean due to, still less up to.

The Economist

Actually, the movement was less up and down than across the ideological spectrum.

The New York Times

(anag. less up, & lit).. M. A. Macdonald-Cooper: Distress rocket duly producing sharpish rescue for people on junk?

The Guardian

There are no other fifth-generation Brookses, so it is more or less up to him to produce an heir.

The New Yorker

What's more, it's likely that a catalogue of other products are doing much the same – but being even less up front about it.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Population statistics tend to be less up-to-date than GDP figures and are generally not available on a quarterly basis.

The Economist

"An option is to continue to focus on niche markets -- military, health care, travelers, specialty retailers and catalogs, Web sites and the like -- that require less up-front investment to create a groundswell of dynamic support.

The New York Times

Cutting has less up-front conservation costs because sagebrush is unaffected, but it is more expensive over longer management time horizons because of decreased durability.

Rangeland Ecology & Management

The Rpl3l, Cox6af, and Mylpf genes had a u-shaped gene expression profile with high up-regulation for 0.05 and 32 Gy, less up-regulation for 0.5 and 11 Gy, and the least up-regulation for 1.4 Gy.

EJNMMI Research

This could be due to a weaker effect from the substrate (less up-shift in G-band) than that of SWNT1 because of possibly the larger E g of SWNT2.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey "less up-to-date", consider replacing "less up" with the more common and precise phrase "less up-to-date".

Common error

Be cautious of using "less up" without a clear reference point, as it can lead to confusion. For example, instead of stating "the data is less up", specify what it is less up to: "the data is less up-to-date than the previous report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less up" functions as a comparative modifier, indicating a reduced state or degree. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this is incorrect and does not convey clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less up" appears across diverse sources, Ludwig AI classifies it as not grammatically correct and potentially unclear. Its intended meaning often revolves around a reduction in being up-to-date, elevated, or energetic. Given its ambiguity, it's advisable to consider more precise alternatives like "less up-to-date", "less current", or similar phrases. Always clarify the intended comparison to avoid confusion, especially in professional or formal settings. Considering that the phrase has a relatively uncommon usage and grammatical ambiguity, the above suggestions become crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat outdated

Suggests that something is not as current or fashionable.

less current

Highlights that something is not as recent or up-to-date.

slightly reduced

Emphasizes a minor degree of diminishment or curtailment.

less advanced

Focuses on a lower level of progression or sophistication.

not so modern

Highlights that something is not as contemporary or cutting-edge.

somewhat diminished

Suggests the fading or reduction of something.

less improved

Indicates a smaller degree of enhancement or betterment.

less increased

Focuses on a smaller amount of augmentation or growth.

less elevated

Emphasizes a lower physical or metaphorical position.

not as high

Emphasizes a lower vertical position or metaphorical level.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "less up-to-date" in a sentence?

You can use "less up-to-date" to indicate that something is not as current as something else. For example: "This version of the software is "less up-to-date" than the one released last month."

What are some alternatives to saying "less up"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "less up" include "less advanced", "less current", or "somewhat outdated".

Is it correct to say "less up" instead of "less up-to-date"?

While "less up" might be understood in some contexts, it's generally better to use the more precise phrase ""less up-to-date"" to avoid ambiguity.

What is the difference between "less up-to-date" and "outdated"?

"Less up-to-date" implies a smaller degree of being current, while "outdated" suggests something is completely obsolete or no longer useful.