lesser money

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser money" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or incorrect.
It could be used in contexts discussing amounts of money that are smaller or of lower value compared to something else, but it is not standard. Example: "He was offered lesser money than his colleagues for the same job."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Even with lesser money, we find the way to do this kind of thing.

The New York Times

Doty has consistently ruled in the players' favor during his years of overseeing the collective bargaining agreement, most recently this week, when he determined that the owners had violated terms of the agreement by negotiating television contracts that gave them guaranteed money even during a lockout in exchange for what might have been lesser money collected.

The New York Times - Sports

Harris follows the business tenet that he'd rather book ten acts for lesser money than two acts for greater money.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

To many Mr Bolland, a Dutchman with a background in supermarkets and beer, looks like the wrong man to woo shoppers back.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

Not long ago Labour staffers were confidently describing the European vote as a dry run for the general election, due to be held in a year's time.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

Local elections on the same day make more reliable psephological wind socks—especially if you know what to look for, and where.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

Real house prices fell by 12% between 2007 and 2011, though they are now surging again.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

The guide that listed them has since gone out of print, but falling memberships of trade bodies like the British Antique Dealers Associationn suggest the decline continues.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

It is also likely to make power firms even less popular than they already are.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

This is apparent in his views on another country, Scotland, a short drive from his cottage door.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

Two other prisoners, one serving time for a robbery at knifepoint, walked out of a Yorkshire jail on May 19th.In this section The lesser escape Money for old rope The squeezed middle Remote controls Running out of road All politics is local Magic or menopausal?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to financial matters, consider using more common phrases like "smaller amount of money" or "reduced funds" for clarity and wider acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser money" in formal writing, as it may sound awkward. Opt for more standard alternatives to maintain professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser money" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "lesser" modifies the noun "money". As noted by Ludwig, while understandable, it is less common than alternative phrasings. It generally indicates a smaller quantity or reduced amount of funds.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lesser money" is a grammatically acceptable but uncommon way to refer to a smaller amount of money. Ludwig AI indicates that while understandable, it's not the most preferred phrasing. It functions as a noun phrase and is used to convey the idea of reduced financial resources. While it appears in news and science contexts, using more common alternatives like "smaller amount of money" or "reduced funds" is generally recommended for clarity and wider acceptance. There's no inherent grammatical error, but its infrequent use makes it sound less natural. As Ludwig AI suggests, consider using more conventional options, as a general best practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller amount of money

Replaces the adjective "lesser" with "smaller" for a more common phrasing.

reduced funds

Uses the noun "funds" instead of "money", implying a decrease in available capital.

lower monetary value

Emphasizes the reduced worth or value in monetary terms.

decreased financial resources

Highlights the reduction in available financial resources.

less capital

Uses the term "capital" instead of "money", suitable for business or economic contexts.

smaller budget

Refers to a smaller allocation of funds for a specific purpose.

limited financial means

Indicates a restriction in available financial resources or capabilities.

reduced compensation

Specifically refers to a decrease in payment or earnings.

lower earnings

Focuses on the reduction in income or profits.

modest sum

Implies a small or humble amount of money.

FAQs

What does "lesser money" mean?

The phrase "lesser money" refers to a smaller amount of money, implying a reduction in financial value or resources. It's not a very common expression, so alternatives like "smaller amount" or "reduced funds" might be clearer.

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

While not frequently used, you could say something like, "Even with "smaller budget", we found a way to make it work."

What can I say instead of "lesser money"?

You can use alternatives like "smaller amount of money", "reduced funds", or "lower monetary value" depending on the context.

Is "lesser money" grammatically incorrect?

No, "lesser money" is not grammatically incorrect, but it's an uncommon phrasing. It's understandable but might sound slightly awkward or unusual to some native English speakers. Using more common alternatives is often preferable.