lesser distance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser distance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two distances, indicating that one is smaller or shorter than the other. Example: "To reach the destination, we should take the route that offers the lesser distance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This one was, inevitably, scored from a lesser distance than David Beckham's, but it was still a thing of beauty, a splendid, thumping volley from the edge of the area to help Sheffield Wednesday win a home game against Aston Villa.

The Guardian - Sport

From a lesser distance, it's deafening.

TechCrunch

Thus photons are likelier to reach the side-walls rather than the ends of the narrow channel, as that entails lesser distance of travel.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

The wells were located at a greater or lesser distance from the point sources of pollution of agricultural origin (farms and organic fertilizers depots) and septic systems.

Applied Water Science

In this case, vehicle 7 will receive a duplicate data packet from a vehicle at a lesser distance in the direction of message propagation (i.e., vehicle 4).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, after the motion of the high energy ions was initially studied, this time step was decreased to 0.002 s in order to ensure that the high energy ions moved through a lesser distance than the smallest grid size used (~180 km) during the time step selected.

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

5.00 Arguably a little short on class this year, the Queen's Vase looks more open than normal with the more experienced types having come up markedly short over lesser distances.

The Guardian - Sport

A semivariogram plot confirmed the presence of substantial distance-based residual spatial correlation in the EC SIR; agglomerations greater than 225 km apart behaved essentially as independent observations in EC, but at lesser distances, SIR were increasingly correlated as the distance between agglomerations centroids diminished.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

These pellets, which are also found associated with different types of cemented aggregates at lesser distances from the vent (i.e., Table 1 of Scolamacchia et al. 2005), have been inferred to have settled from phoenix clouds associated with PDC movement up to distances of 10.5 km (the maximum extension of diluted PDC deposits at El Chichón).

Bulletin of Volcanology

The mode of teaching that is reflected is mostly blended and, to a lesser extent, distance learning.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

A wide variety of nonverbal cues can lead to changes in apparent status, including nodding, shifting the legs and body, raising and lowering the brows, and maintaining greater or lesser interpersonal distance.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing distances, use "lesser distance" to clearly indicate which of the options is shorter. For instance, "To minimize travel time, choose the route with the "lesser distance"".

Common error

Avoid using "less distance" when you intend to convey that one distance is definitively shorter than another. "Lesser distance" implies a comparison between two specific distances, while "less distance" is more general and refers to a quantity of distance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser distance" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective ("lesser"). It typically acts as a subject complement or an object in a sentence, describing a spatial relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser distance" is a grammatically sound and semantically clear way to describe a shorter spatial separation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While alternatives like "shorter distance" or "smaller distance" exist, "lesser distance" holds its own, particularly in more formal or scientific contexts. Its primary function is comparative, highlighting a reduced measure between points. The phrase sees use primarily in scientific and news domains, indicating its utility in analytical and descriptive writing. Remember to use "lesser distance" to compare defined measures, and avoid "less distance" when clarity is paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shorter distance

Replaces "lesser" with "shorter", focusing on the physical length.

smaller distance

Emphasizes the magnitude of the distance being less.

reduced distance

Highlights the act of the distance being diminished.

decreased distance

Similar to reduced, but focuses on the action of decreasing.

closer proximity

Uses different terminology to express nearness.

nearer range

Emphasizes the concept of being within a closer boundary or extent.

more proximate location

Focuses on the location itself being closer.

diminished separation

Highlights the reduced amount of space between two points.

narrower gap

Implies a smaller space or interval between two things.

tighter spacing

Suggests a more compact arrangement with reduced distance.

FAQs

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

Use "lesser distance" when you want to indicate a shorter spatial separation between two points or locations, often in comparison to another, greater distance. For example, "The route with the "shorter distance" is usually faster".

What's a good alternative to "lesser distance"?

Alternatives to "lesser distance" include "shorter distance", "smaller distance", or "reduced distance". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "lesser distance" vs. "shorter distance"?

"Lesser distance" and "shorter distance" are often interchangeable, but "lesser distance" can sometimes imply a more formal tone. "Shorter distance" is generally more common and widely understood.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less distance" instead of "lesser distance"?

While "less distance" might be understood, "lesser distance" is more precise when you're comparing two defined distances. "Less distance" typically refers to a general reduction in distance, not a comparative scenario. Therefore using "lesser distance" is correct when comparing two distances.