lesser businesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser businesses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to businesses that are smaller, less significant, or less successful compared to others in a particular context. Example: "In a competitive market, lesser businesses often struggle to keep up with the larger corporations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Bear markets batter great franchises along with lesser businesses.

Forbes

Still, those groups, standing alone, could be worth another $4 billion without the distractions of lesser businesses.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Lesser business schools find the dilemmas greater.And the competition is growing.

The Economist

C.E.O.'s and lesser business lights have long sought inspiration from his life and work.

The New York Times

Business-to-consumer and, to a lesser degree, business-to-business companies are out of favor, while wireless and optical networking technology are in vogue, said Sasha Talebi, research director of VentureOne, a market research firm in San Francisco.

The New York Times

Rather than having their assets sold off and closing their doors, as happens to lesser bankrupt businesses in a capitalist economy, "zombie" banks are to be kept alive and open for business at all costs - and the costs are again to be to borne by us.

Huffington Post

With that in mind, here are our picks for 2015, which range from FTSE 100 stalwarts to a few lesser known businesses with growth potential.

The Guardian - Business

After a history that might have undone lesser family businesses, St. Louis-based Maritz Inc. is taking on "performance improvement" duties for most of the Forbes 500.

Forbes

He explained that distribution companies such as: Direct TV, Verizon, Dish Satellite, Comcast and other lesser known businesses, who distribute porn channels, stand a lot to lose in terms of revenues and "eyeballs".

Huffington Post

The buyer at the Time Warner Center was Todd Wagner, the lesser known business partner of Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

The New York Times

Finally, Zynga and many other lesser-known businesses illustrated that if you build a business on top of another business, you are at the whim of their decisions.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing businesses, use "lesser businesses" to clearly indicate a difference in scale, success, or significance. This phrase is useful when providing context or contrasting with larger or more prominent entities.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser businesses" without a clear point of comparison. It's more effective when you're contrasting them with specific, larger, or more successful counterparts to highlight the distinction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser businesses" functions as a noun phrase, where "lesser" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "businesses". It generally indicates businesses that are smaller in scale, revenue, or influence compared to others. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser businesses" is a grammatically sound and usable term, primarily employed in news and business contexts to distinguish companies based on their size, revenue, or significance relative to larger counterparts. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's generally seen as correct and effective for conveying this distinction. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears in reputable sources like Forbes and The New York Times, highlighting its applicability in professional and journalistic discourse. When using the term, it's important to provide a clear point of comparison to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization. Consider alternatives such as "smaller companies" or "less significant businesses" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Less significant businesses

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the businesses.

Less successful businesses

Directly addresses the level of achievement of the businesses.

Smaller companies

Focuses on size as the defining characteristic.

Lower-tier businesses

Indicates businesses that are not in the top category.

Smaller-scale businesses

Refers to businesses with a reduced operational scope.

Minor enterprises

Uses a more formal term for businesses that are not major players.

Weaker businesses

Highlights the competitive strength of the businesses.

Secondary businesses

Suggests a supporting role relative to primary businesses.

Marginal businesses

Implies businesses operating at the edge of profitability or relevance.

Subordinate businesses

Implies a hierarchical relationship where these businesses are lower in rank.

FAQs

How can I use "lesser businesses" in a sentence?

You can use "lesser businesses" to compare them to larger ones, as in, "The new regulations disproportionately affect "lesser businesses"." It's also useful to distinguish them based on revenue or size.

What are some alternatives to "lesser businesses"?

Consider using phrases like "smaller companies", "minor enterprises", or "less significant businesses" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "lesser businesses" or should I use another term?

"Lesser businesses" is grammatically correct. Its appropriateness depends on context and the specific nuance you intend. If you need to be more specific about size, smaller companies could be better. If about influence, less significant businesses might be more accurate.

What's the difference between "lesser businesses" and "small businesses"?

"Small businesses" refers to a specific size category, often defined by revenue or number of employees. "Lesser businesses" implies a comparison to larger or more successful entities, focusing on relative significance.