less very

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less very" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a combination of two modifiers that do not work together logically. Example: "I feel less very excited about the event than I did before."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

They were none the less very close, and at one point Bainbridge worked for Duckworth in a non-editorial role.

Independent

That sort of growth is simply unsustainable within a currency union.* It represents, more or less, very rapid growth in the number of euros being spent each year.

The Economist

"The base level at which they enter the profession and start making work is so much higher," he said pointing to the fact that this kind of cultural capital cannot be measured statistically but is none the less very real.

The Guardian

When we talk about the coarseness of today's celebrity culture, she bemoans the fact "that there are people who have accomplished nothing, absolutely nothing, in their lives who are none the less very much part of young people's consciousness, because of their presence in the media".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Republicans never say "poor" (as I've already mentioned) much less "very poor".

Huffington Post

Parts of the Quran contained in the tested fragments were very similar in content to the Quran as it exists today, he added, which "tends to support the view that the Quran that we now have is more or less very close indeed to the Quran as it was brought together in the early years of Islam".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Similarly, the satisfaction score was dichotomised into "less than very satisfied" (score 0 3) and "very satisfied" (scored 4).

British Medical Journal

About 52percentt of foreign-born residents say they speak English less than very well.

The New York Times

The singing is never less than very decent, and often a good deal more.

The Guardian

None the less, a very beautiful woman in her youth, she retained her looks.

The Guardian

These factors made consuming more and saving less a very rational decision, albeit a short-sighted one.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "less very" in your writing. Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "not very" or "slightly less".

Common error

Avoid combining "less" with "very" as it can create a confusing double negative. Instead of saying something is "less very important", clarify by stating it is "not very important" or "somewhat unimportant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less very" functions as an attempt to modify an adjective, but it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not usable in written English, representing a combination of modifiers that don't logically work together.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less very" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's not typically used in writing. Instead, alternatives like ""not very"" or ""slightly less"" are recommended for expressing a reduced degree of a quality. Given its lack of usage and ungrammatical structure, it's best to avoid "less very" in formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not very

Emphasizes negation of the degree to which something possesses a quality.

not particularly

Suggests a moderate degree of something, but not to a significant extent.

somewhat less

Indicates a reduction in degree compared to a previous state.

slightly less

Highlights a minimal reduction in quantity or intensity.

a bit less

Informal way to express a small decrease.

not as

Expresses a comparison indicating a lower level of something.

not so

Similar to "not as", but often used for emphasis or surprise.

not really

Indicates a lack of genuineness or a lower degree than expected.

hardly

Implies a minimal amount or degree.

scarcely

Similar to "hardly", suggesting a barely perceptible amount.

FAQs

What does it mean if something is described as "less very"?

The phrase "less very" is not standard English and lacks a clear meaning. It's best to rephrase using alternatives like "not very" or "slightly less" for clarity.

Is it grammatically correct to use the phrase "less very"?

No, the phrase "less very" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "not very" or another more appropriate construction.

How can I rephrase a sentence that includes "less very" to make it sound more natural?

Instead of "less very", try using "not very", "slightly less", or "somewhat less" depending on the intended meaning. For example, instead of "The movie was less very exciting", say "The movie was not very exciting".

Are there any situations where "less very" might be acceptable?

The phrase "less very" is rarely, if ever, acceptable in standard English. It's always preferable to use a clearer and more grammatically correct alternative.