lesser tasks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser tasks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to tasks that are of lower importance or priority compared to others. Example: "While I appreciate the effort, I believe we should focus on the major projects rather than getting bogged down by lesser tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now, many of you are probably like me in that your husband considers his work to be of such extreme importance that all supposedly lesser tasks, such as the handling of health-care paperwork, are left totally up to you.

The New Yorker

Delegate lesser tasks.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That is not a lesser task.

The New Yorker

You can expect that SAP will try to make the migration easy, and it would probably be a lesser task than transitioning from some other company's software.

Forbes

Identify when you are substituting a lesser task in order to avoid the more important task you have committed to.

WikiHow

It's viewed as a lesser, included, task, and that's obviously not true".

The New York Times

Students in the physical treatment were looking many different places: at peers (25%), at the TA (13%), or to a lesser extent off-task (<10%; Fig. 3a).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The results of the first experiment (N= 24) showed that the annoyance assessments were indeed altered by the experience of disruption, most strongly during, and to a lesser extent after task completion, whereas ratings of the non-disruptive sounds remained largely unaffected.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The only ROIs that did not display a significant group effect were the middle cingulate cortex, which is not commonly considered part of the default network, and the posterior cingulate cortex, which also displayed a lesser correlation with task-independent thoughts compared to the other regions in the above mentioned study [23].

Plosone

There was greater deactivation of the right hippocampal remnant compared to controls between 3 and 12 months after right anterior temporal lobe resection that was associated with lesser improvement in task performance.

Brain

At 3 months after surgery compared to baseline, patients with left TLE failed to increase deactivation of the hippocampal remnant and this was related to lesser improvement in task performance.

Brain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When delegating, clearly differentiate between important and "lesser tasks" to ensure team members understand priorities.

Common error

Avoid dismissing "lesser tasks" entirely. While they may not be the primary focus, neglecting them can sometimes lead to larger problems or inefficiencies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser tasks" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "lesser" modifies the noun "tasks". This phrase is typically used to describe duties or responsibilities that hold a lower level of importance or priority compared to other, more significant duties. As indicated by Ludwig, the expression is correct and appropriate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

54%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser tasks" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed noun phrase used to denote duties or responsibilities of lower importance. As affirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is appropriate for use across a variety of contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While seemingly straightforward, it's important to avoid completely dismissing the significance of these tasks. Instead, effectively differentiating and managing "lesser tasks" helps in efficient workflow and resource allocation. Alternatives such as "minor tasks" or "secondary tasks" can be used to express similar ideas with slightly different nuances. Overall, this simple phrase plays a useful role in communicating priorities and managing workloads effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor tasks

Focuses on the reduced significance or scale of the tasks.

secondary tasks

Highlights the tasks' role as supportive or not primary.

smaller tasks

Emphasizes the reduced size or complexity of the tasks.

unimportant tasks

Directly indicates the tasks lack significance.

trivial tasks

Suggests the tasks are inconsequential or of little value.

lower priority tasks

Indicates the tasks are not urgent or critical.

less significant tasks

Highlights a reduced level of importance or impact.

subordinate tasks

Suggests the tasks are under the authority or control of other, more important tasks.

ancillary tasks

Refers to tasks that provide support to the main tasks.

routine tasks

Focuses on the repetitiveness and ordinariness of the tasks, often implying lower importance.

FAQs

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

You can use "lesser tasks" to refer to duties that are of lower importance or priority compared to others. For instance, "While I appreciate the effort, I believe we should focus on the major projects rather than getting bogged down by lesser tasks."

What are some alternatives to "lesser tasks"?

Alternatives to "lesser tasks" include "minor tasks", "secondary tasks", or "smaller tasks", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "lesser tasks" in formal writing?

Yes, "lesser tasks" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase.

What is the difference between "lesser tasks" and "minor tasks"?

While both phrases refer to tasks of reduced importance, "lesser tasks" implies a difference in degree of importance, while "minor tasks" emphasizes the tasks' reduced scale or significance.