less well than

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "less well than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the inferior performance of something in comparison to something else, as in the example sentence, "She speaks French less well than her brother."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The film did less well than anticipated.

The Guardian - Film

Nan weathered less well than I did.

The Guardian - Books

Do consumers assume they perform less well than others?

The Guardian

They are doing considerably less well than under Hague".

The Guardian

Do they perform less well than British-trained doctors?

The Guardian

Then, too, some scenes work less well than others.

The New York Times - Arts

The camera sees things less well than my eyes.

The Guardian

(Mr. Tudor's party did less well than he did personally).

The New York Times

Nonetheless, the Social Democrats did far less well than expected.

The New York Times

They fared less well than on their previous tour.

The New York Times

The script fares less well than the numbers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing performance or quality, ensure the subjects being compared are clearly defined. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the comparison using "less well than".

Common error

Avoid using "less well than" when you're not explicitly comparing two or more entities. For example, instead of saying "This performed less well than expected" (without specifying what it was compared to), provide the point of comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less well than" functions as a comparative adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or verb phrase to indicate that an action is performed to a smaller degree or with less quality than something else. This is consistent with Ludwig's analysis, which confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less well than" is a grammatically correct and frequently used comparative phrase for indicating that something performs or measures up to a lower standard compared to something else. According to Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, from News & Media to academic writing. It’s crucial to clearly define what is being compared to avoid ambiguity. Remember, while synonyms like "not as well as" exist, "less well than" offers a direct and neutral comparison. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its validity and the examples highlight its wide applicability, making it a valuable addition to your writing toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as well as

Replaces "less" with "not as", creating a slightly more direct comparison.

with less success than

Emphasizes the lack of success in the comparison.

not as effectively as

Highlights the difference in effectiveness or efficiency.

to a lesser extent than

Introduces a degree of formality and emphasizes the difference in extent.

to a smaller degree than

Similar to "to a lesser extent", but emphasizes the size or magnitude of the difference.

not to the same degree as

Focuses on the difference in degree or intensity.

not quite as good as

Introduces a more casual tone while maintaining the comparative meaning.

more poorly than

Substitutes "well" with "poorly", reversing the polarity of the comparison.

inferior to

Offers a direct comparison of inferiority, simplifying the phrase.

does not measure up to

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of not meeting a certain standard.

FAQs

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

Use "less well than" to compare the performance, quality, or success of one thing relative to another. For example: "She sings "less well than" her sister."

What's a more formal alternative to "less well than"?

A more formal alternative is "to a lesser extent than". For example: "The project succeeded to a "less extent than" anticipated."

Is it always necessary to specify what something is performing "less well than"?

Yes, it's best practice to specify the point of comparison to avoid ambiguity. Otherwise, the statement lacks context and weakens the comparison.

What are some common synonyms for "less well than"?

Common synonyms include "not as well as", "more poorly than", and "not as effectively as". Each emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the comparison.