lesser than before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser than before" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically intended to express a decrease in quantity or quality compared to a previous state, but the correct form would be "less than before." Example: "The noise in the room is less than before, making it easier to concentrate."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In this region, the reaction rate was multiplied by catalyst to mixture (catalyst + ceramic) mass ratio and consequently the resulting rate was lesser than before.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

After adjusting for the influence of these sociodemographic variables, chronic medical conditions continued to influence HRQoL, generally to a lesser degree than before adjustment.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Don't feel LESSer THAN; I did, too.

The New York Times

There is little doubt that threats, vote buying and intimidation were widespread throughout the country, whether to a greater or lesser extent than before.

The New York Times

The Gulf monarchies still rely on American protection, as do Jordan and (to a lesser extent than before) Israel.The perception of American timidity has yet to do serious damage to American interests in the Middle East.

The Economist

I felt that the cerebral palsy defined me in a lesser extent than before each time I would score a kill point in the bedroom.

Vice

In serum leptin level was lesser than in the VAT.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Any more than before?

The New Yorker

Less than before, perhaps.

The Economist

"But in a different way than before".

Independent

Figure 3 shows the particle size distribution of shale particles before filtering it to get particle sizes lesser than 1 μm.

Petroleum Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a reduction over time, prefer using the grammatically correct phrase "less than before" or alternatives like "reduced from earlier" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Don't use "lesser than before" in formal writing. Opt for "less than before" to correctly convey a reduction or decrease in quantity, quality, or extent compared to a prior state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser than before" functions as a comparative, attempting to describe a state that is reduced or diminished relative to a prior condition. However, it is grammatically flawed. The correct way to express this comparison is by using "less than before".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser than before" seeks to express a reduction or decrease relative to a previous state. However, it's grammatically incorrect; the proper form is "less than before". As Ludwig AI highlights, this discrepancy impacts clarity and correctness. While you might find it in informal settings, aiming for accuracy in professional and academic writing involves using the correct grammatical structure. Consider using alternative phrases like "reduced from earlier" or "diminished compared to before" to convey your intended meaning with precision. By understanding the correct usage and exploring alternative expressions, you can enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than previously

Replaces "before" with "previously", offering a more formal tone.

reduced from earlier

Uses "reduced" to emphasize the decrease and "earlier" instead of "before".

lower than in the past

Substitutes "lesser" with "lower" and "before" with "in the past" for a more descriptive comparison.

diminished compared to before

Replaces "lesser" with "diminished" to highlight a reduction, keeping "before" for temporal reference.

smaller than it was

Offers a simpler, more direct way to express a reduction in size or amount.

not as much as before

Focuses on the quantity and compares it to a previous state.

to a lesser degree than previously

Adds specificity by using "degree" to quantify the reduction.

decreased from what it was

Emphasizes the action of decreasing relative to a past state.

less intense than formerly

Highlights a reduction in intensity using "formerly" to denote a past state.

not as significant as previously

Focuses on the importance or significance of something compared to an earlier time.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "lesser than before"?

The grammatically correct alternative is "less than before". "Lesser" is typically used to describe something of lower importance or quality, while "less" indicates a smaller quantity or degree.

How can I rephrase "lesser than before" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "reduced from earlier", "diminished compared to before", or "to a lesser degree than previously".

What does "lesser than before" imply?

The phrase intends to communicate a decrease or reduction in something compared to a previous state. However, due to its grammatical incorrectness, it is better to use "less than before" or one of the suggested alternatives for clarity.

Is "lesser than before" ever appropriate to use?

While technically incorrect, you might encounter "lesser than before" in informal contexts or when someone is not a native English speaker. In formal writing and speech, it's best to use "less than before" or other more suitable alternatives to avoid confusion.