lesser than two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser than two" is not commonly used in standard written English; "less than two" is preferred.
You can use it in mathematical or comparative contexts, but it may sound awkward to some readers. Example: "The number of participants was lesser than two, which means the event was canceled."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Their trust in newspapers, TV news and yes, business magazines, is down sharply: 35-40% lesser than two years ago, according to a 2010 survey conducted by Edelman.

Forbes

Culturally, though, there's certainly an argument that three is lesser than two, especially since the building momentum we saw on "Lord of the Rings" has now given way to the yawning oh-another-movie-ness of "The Hobbit".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

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

Vice

However, synaptic potentials recorded from silent slices in in vivo-like ACSF showed some augmentation during the first 10 pulses, although lesser than the one in active slices maintained in ACSF with the same ionic composition (Fig. 1B, C).

Plosone

But an ETA with no arms would be an even lesser threat than one with them.

The Economist

It's a lesser thing than three of these, but better in my view than Harvey, being less whimsical and less inclined to see its protagonist as an unconditional bringer of light.

The Guardian - Film

If one refuses to hire Catholics or Jews or women even when they are most qualified, the product one offers for sale will be more costly to produce as a result, and if the market for this product is competitive, one cannot raise the price at which one sells it but must accept lesser profit than one would have obtained had one's hiring decisions been unprejudiced.

SEP

Three immunizations also induced the specific IgG response to WT1Pep427 peptide, but to a lesser degree than four immunizations, confirming that repetitive immunizations were required for boosting the antibody response.

ACS Nano

The Lesser Flamingo has such a dense filter that it can sift out single-celled plants less than two hundredths of an inch in diameter.

Stanford University

These means that in 355 nm, the amount of carbon material removed from the target is lesser than the other two, which reduce the size of the agglomerates.

Nanoscale Research Letters

From these data, it appears that values of body dimensions of tribal female workers from two NE states of India are lesser than those of eight other countries mentioned above.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "less than two" or "fewer than two" for clearer and more common phrasing in most contexts. While "lesser than two" is technically correct, it may sound awkward or overly formal to some readers.

Common error

Avoid substituting "lesser" for "less" in general quantity comparisons. "Lesser" often implies a degree of importance or quality, not just numerical value. For instance, instead of saying "The risk was lesser than two percent", use "The risk was less than two percent."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser than two" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that the quantity or degree associated with it is smaller than two. While functional, Ludwig AI notes that other phrasings are more common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser than two" is used to express a quantity or degree that is smaller than the number two. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's less common than alternatives such as "less than two" or "fewer than two", which are often preferred for their clarity and conciseness. While grammatically acceptable, "lesser than two" might sound overly formal in some contexts, and it is often better to reserve "lesser" for comparisons related to importance or quality. When expressing numerical values, simpler phrasings are typically favored.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller than two

Replaces "lesser" with "smaller", focusing on physical size or magnitude rather than a general comparison.

less than two

Uses the more common "less" instead of "lesser", resulting in a more natural phrasing.

fewer than two

Emphasizes countability, suitable when referring to discrete items.

below two

A simpler way of stating that a value is under the number two.

under two

Similar to "below two", indicating a value that does not reach two.

not exceeding two

Formal phrasing that specifies an upper limit of two.

not more than two

Similar to "not exceeding two", but slightly less formal.

at most two

Highlights the maximum possible quantity, which is two.

up to two

Specifies an inclusive range that ends at two.

in the vicinity of one

Indicates a value close to one, implying a quantity significantly below two.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "lesser than two"?

While grammatically sound, "lesser than two" is not the most common phrasing. Using "less than two" or "fewer than two" is generally preferred for clarity.

When should I use "lesser than two" instead of "less than two"?

Consider using "lesser than two" when emphasizing a comparative lack of importance or significance in addition to quantity. However, in most numerical contexts, "less than two" is more appropriate.

What does "lesser than two" mean?

It signifies a quantity, amount, or degree that is smaller or of lower value compared to the number two. Depending on the context, alternatives like "fewer than two" might be clearer.

What are some alternatives to "lesser than two"?

Alternatives include "less than two", "fewer than two" (if referring to countable items), "below two", and "under two". The best choice depends on the specific context.