lower of

USAGE SUMMARY

"lower of" is not a correct phrase in written English.
The correct phrasing you are looking for is "lower than." Example: The temperature in the room decreased to a lower than average level.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is actually the lower of several estimates quoted.

The Guardian

Carlos Fernandez from Spain (West) led the club queen, the lower of two touching honors.

The New York Times

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS Entrance, and lower of two dining and accessible restroom all at street level.

The New York Times - Food

The lower of your quotes – £244 – will be met, plus £25 as a goodwill gesture.

The Guardian - Money

Depending on the accounting method you have chosen, you may value this inventory at the lower of cost or market.

The New York Times

Dennis Head, the older and lower of the two, was built in 1789 and decommissioned in 1809.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This is the real aim of policy, following the sudden lurch lower of Japanese profits in 2011.

The Guardian - Opinion

The tallies are much lower, of course, than in the two world wars.

The New York Times

In 1992, even the lower of these rates proved far too tough.

The Economist

AOL's shares of Amazon will be priced at the lower of $15.28 or the average price of the next five trading days for Amazon.

The New York Times

I tried to insert the edge of my pinky finger into the lower of the two screws but succeeded only in tearing the nail.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two values, ensure that the comparison is grammatically correct by using "lower than" instead of the phrase "lower of".

Common error

Avoid using "lower of" when you mean "lower than". While "lower of" may be understood, it is grammatically incorrect and can reduce the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower of" functions as a prepositional phrase used in comparative contexts to indicate a minimum or lesser value. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Instead, "lower than" is preferred for accurate comparison.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lower of" is frequently used to compare values and select the minimum. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect, recommending "lower than" for accurate comparisons. While widely found in news and media, its use should be approached cautiously in formal writing. For better clarity and correctness, consider alternatives such as "smaller of", "lesser of", or "minimum of". Remember that while it's a commonly used phrase, choosing precision in grammar will make your communication clearer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the smaller of

Replaces "lower" with "smaller", emphasizing physical size or numerical value.

the lesser of

Substitutes "lower" with "lesser", highlighting reduced importance or degree.

the minimum of

Uses "minimum" to specify the lowest acceptable or possible value.

the least of

Employs "least" to denote the smallest quantity or degree.

whichever is smaller

Expresses the selection process more explicitly by focusing on the selection of what is smaller.

whichever is less

Focuses on selecting the quantity that is not as great.

the inferior of

Focuses on comparing quality not only quantity and can be considered a value judgement.

the bottom of

Used to talk about a ranking or order.

the floor of

Used for mathematics or computer science.

the worst of

Used to talk about the minimum quality, not quantity.

FAQs

What's the proper way to compare two values?

Instead of using "lower of", which is grammatically incorrect, use "lower than" to ensure your comparison is clear and grammatically sound.

How can I rephrase a sentence that incorrectly uses "lower of"?

Replace "lower of" with alternatives like "smaller of" or "lesser of", depending on the context. If you're comparing values, it's better to use "lower than".

Is "lower of" ever considered correct in any context?

While frequently used, "lower of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Aim for alternatives like "smaller of" or "lower than" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

What alternatives can I use to indicate the minimum value between two options?

Consider using phrases such as "minimum of" or "least of". Although commonly used, it's important to note that "lower of" is not considered grammatically correct.