little defined as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little defined as" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to describe something that is not clearly defined, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The concept was little defined as it lacked clear parameters and guidelines."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In a study of nearly 400 employees, published last year, researchers found that sleeping too little — defined as less than six hours each night — was one of the best predictors of on-the-job burn-out.

The New York Times

Sleeping too little — defined as less than six hours each night — is one of the best predictors of burnout.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Whereas activities of UGT73C subfamily members have been analyzed against various substrates in vitro [ 13, 15, 16, 18] the in planta substrate specificities and the physiological roles of these UGTs are, with the exception of UGT73C5, as yet little defined.

BMC Plant Biology

The importance of this little defined protein should not be overlooked, as the SERCA3 locus has been implicated in the genetic susceptibility in human type 2 diabetes [ 41].

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Participants in one group had received no training at all; those in the second had done a little training, defined as between one and three years of lessons; and those in the third had received moderate levels of training (four to 14 years).

The Guardian

If their symptoms had changed, patients were asked to rate the magnitude of improvement or worsening on a seven-point scale ranging from 1 to 7. In the present analysis worsening was collapsed into one category, a little better was defined as +1 to +4, while much better was defined as +5 to +7.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The figures, for cigars sold in 1988, covered all types except "little" cigars, which are defined as weighing less than three pounds per 1,000; thus the figures did include cigarellos, which are large cigars.

The New York Times

A little background: mmWave is defined as frequencies ranging from 30GHz to 300GHz.

Forbes

Safe-sites are defined as little areas, often surrounded by big stones, filled up of stone debris or mineral mud [ 4].

BioMed Research International

It represents a colossal level of suffering that receives very little publicity". Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than three to six months, for at least three times a week, and is rated as severe.

The Guardian

This level of evidence is defined as "very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect" [86].

Sports Medicine - Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "little defined as" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives that clearly indicate the degree and nature of the lack of definition.

Common error

A common mistake is to incorrectly assume "little" can directly modify "defined as". Ensure that descriptive adjectives like "poorly", "vaguely", or "inadequately" are correctly placed to modify "defined", creating a grammatically correct phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little defined as" functions as an attempt to qualify the state of something's definition. It aims to express that the definition is either minimal or inadequate, but the construction is grammatically unconventional. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase isn't correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little defined as" presents grammatical and clarity challenges, as validated by Ludwig AI. Although the intent is to express a lack of adequate definition, the construction is not standard English. Consequently, it's advisable to opt for alternatives such as "poorly defined", "vaguely defined", or "not well-defined" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. While its components may appear across various sources, the phrase itself lacks authoritative support. Therefore, adopting more conventional alternatives will enhance both the precision and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not well-defined

Uses a more common and grammatically sound construction to express a lack of clear definition.

Poorly defined

Replaces "little" with "poorly", indicating a low quality of definition.

Vaguely defined

Replaces "little" with "vaguely", emphasizing a lack of precision.

Underdefined

A concise term suggesting incomplete definition.

Inadequately defined

Highlights the insufficiency of the definition.

Scarcely defined

Replaces "little" with "scarcely", suggesting that definition is present but minimal.

Loosely defined

Implies a flexible or non-strict definition.

Minimally defined

Emphasizes the minimal extent to which something has been defined.

Sparsely defined

Indicates that the definition is thin or lacks detail.

Ambiguously defined

Focuses on the unclear or open-to-interpretation nature of the definition.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "little defined as"?

Alternatives include "poorly defined", "vaguely defined", or "not well-defined", which are more grammatically correct and widely understood.

How can I improve the clarity of a statement using "little defined as"?

Replace "little defined as" with a phrase that specifies the nature of the lack of definition, such as "incompletely defined" or "imprecisely defined".

Is "little defined as" grammatically correct?

No, "little defined as" is not considered grammatically correct. More standard and clear alternatives should be used in formal writing.

When is it appropriate to use "little defined as"?

It's generally best to avoid "little defined as" in formal or academic writing. In more casual contexts, while the meaning might be understood, clearer alternatives are still recommended for better communication.