less-than symbol

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less-than symbol" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the mathematical symbol "<" that indicates a value is smaller than another value. Example: "In programming, the less-than symbol is often used in conditional statements to compare values."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Participating advertisers place a small button on ads with the AdKeeper logo — a "K" formed by an exclamation point and less-than symbol — and when a consumer clicks the button, the ad is stored on a page on AdKeeper.com along with any others the consumer has saved.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even if, as some critics have complained uncharitably, Russ's pi glyphs, greater-than and less-than symbols and such don't make sense.

The Guardian - Film

In cultures incubated in sealed vials growth is accompanied by a continuous decrease in oxygen concentration, which is indicated in the lettering of figures and tables by a "less than" symbol in front of the initial oxygen concentration.

Plosone

Results below this are typically reported with a "less than" symbol.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

If a player belongs to a guild, the guild name will be displayed below the character's name enclosed within a greater than and less than symbol so it's easy for other players to identify if they already belong to another guild.

WikiHow

Then, partition the remaining symbols into groups, each having symbols, except that the th group may have less than symbols.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It is pointed out that if the last group has less than symbols, then the calculation through (19)–(23) needs to be carried out based on the actual number of symbols.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

As long as we focus on numbers and declare victory when the greater than and less than symbols converge, we will have achieved nothing of any lasting value.

Huffington Post

A minaret, by contrast, is no more and no less than a symbol.

The New York Times

She had become nothing less than a symbol of Time itself, a reminder of the good intentions of the past and a warning about what might happen once she was gone and, with her, the dream of a united Europe.

The Guardian - Books

The $4 billion tower includes an Armani hotel, an observation deck, homes, offices and more, and is nothing less than "a symbol of Dubai's can-do spirit," according to the building's owner, state-owned Emaar Properties.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about mathematical or programming concepts, clearly define the "less-than symbol" or its equivalent (like "<") to avoid ambiguity, especially for non-technical audiences.

Common error

Avoid using the "less-than symbol" incorrectly in contexts where it doesn't logically apply. For instance, don't use it to describe qualitative differences unless those differences can be quantified in some way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less-than symbol" functions as a noun phrase, specifically identifying a mathematical symbol. Ludwig's examples show its usage in defining and explaining this symbol across various fields.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less-than symbol" accurately refers to the mathematical symbol "<", signifying that one value is smaller than another. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct, though its frequency is relatively rare. It's commonly found in scientific, news media, and wiki contexts. While alternatives like "less-than sign" exist, using the symbol directly is often preferred in technical writing for conciseness. When using the phrase, ensure that it’s employed in contexts where quantitative comparison is appropriate. According to Ludwig AI, this noun phrase serves a primarily descriptive and explanatory role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less-than sign

This is a direct synonym, simply using "sign" instead of "symbol".

the "<" symbol

This refers to the symbol directly, using quotation marks to denote it as a character.

mathematical symbol for less than

This is a more descriptive way to refer to the symbol, specifying its mathematical context.

smaller than symbol

This alternative utilizes simpler phrasing, substituting "less" for "smaller".

the symbol '<' meaning 'less than'

This alternative specifies both the symbol and its meaning explicitly.

inequality symbol

This term broadens the scope to include both less-than and greater-than symbols, as they both represent inequalities.

the less-than operator

Refers to the symbol as an operator, particularly in programming contexts.

the character '<'

Focuses on the character itself rather than its symbolic meaning, using single quotes to denote the character.

the sign representing 'less than'

This phrase uses a more verbose way to describe what the symbol signifies.

the '<' glyph

Uses the term "glyph" to refer to the visual representation of the symbol.

FAQs

How is the "less-than symbol" used in mathematics?

The "less-than symbol" (<) is used to indicate that one value is smaller than another. For example, 5 < 10 means that 5 is less than 10.

What's the difference between "less-than symbol" and "less-than or equal to symbol"?

The "less-than symbol" (<) means a value is strictly smaller, while the less-than or equal to symbol (≤ or <=) means a value is smaller or equal to another.

Where can I find the "less-than symbol" on my keyboard?

The "less-than symbol" (<) is typically located on the same key as the comma (,) on most standard keyboards. You don't need to press shift to type it.

Can I use words instead of the "less-than symbol"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "is less than", "smaller than", or "is below" depending on the context. However, in mathematical or programming contexts, the symbol is preferred for brevity and clarity.