lower than anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lower than anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing outcomes or results that did not meet expectations, often in contexts like business, finance, or project evaluations. Example: "The sales figures for this quarter were lower than anticipated, prompting a review of our marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, online delivery income was lower than anticipated.

The Guardian - Business

Renewal lease rates have also been lower than anticipated".

The New York Times

The problems are largely ones of success – carbon emissions are lower than anticipated.

The Guardian

The resulting overall deficit of £2.6m is much lower than anticipated.

The Guardian

In 2012, she published a party planning book called Celebrate, which received lower than anticipated sales.

Independent

Much of the reduction stemmed from lower than anticipated outlays for unemployment insurance.

The New York Times

And state officials recently said that revenues were coming in lower than anticipated, worsening the problem.

The New York Times

Even within this challenging market, however, Morrisons said trading was "disappointing" and Philips admitted sales were lower than anticipated.

The Guardian - Business

The energy industry is going through a worldwide crisis because of an oil glut caused by over-production and lower than anticipated demand.

The Guardian - Business

Sales for the quarter are expected to come in lower than anticipated by Wall Street, showing an increase of less than 5percentt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, the normalization procedure we used negated much of the concern resulting from higher- or lower-than anticipated hybridization characteristics.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lower than anticipated", ensure the context clearly establishes what was initially expected. This provides a frame of reference and emphasizes the degree of deviation from the original forecast or projection.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "lower than anticipated" in reports or analyses. Instead, vary your language by employing synonyms such as "below expectations" or "less than projected" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower than anticipated" functions as an adjectival phrase, typically modifying nouns like "results", "sales", or "costs". As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes a state of affairs where the actual outcome is less than what was previously expected or projected. This phrase often adds a layer of evaluation or judgment to the description.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lower than anticipated" is a frequently used and grammatically correct adjectival phrase suitable for various contexts. It's used to describe outcomes that did not meet expectations, often in business, science, and media. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples of its usage. For variety, consider using alternatives such as ""less than expected"" or ""below expectations"". Be mindful of overuse and always provide context to clarify the initial expectations. This phrase is generally neutral to professional, fitting well in formal reports and analyses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than expected

Uses a simpler structure and vocabulary.

below expectations

Employs a more concise and direct expression.

under projected

Specifically relates to not achieving projected values.

worse than forecast

Highlights the negative aspect and the failure to meet a forecast.

poorer than predicted

Emphasizes the quality being inferior compared to a prediction.

did not meet expectations

A more formal and explicit statement of unmet expectations.

fell short of projections

Indicates a failure to reach a specific projected target.

disappointing results

Focuses on the disappointment caused by the results.

failed to materialize

Suggests that something expected did not happen.

smaller than forecast

More direct and simple.

FAQs

How can I use "lower than anticipated" in a sentence?

You can use "lower than anticipated" to describe results that didn't meet expectations. For example, "The quarterly profits were "lower than anticipated" due to increased operational costs".

What are some alternatives to "lower than anticipated"?

Alternatives include "less than expected", "below expectations", or "under projected depending" on the context.

Is it correct to say "lower than expected" instead of "lower than anticipated"?

Yes, "lower than expected" is a perfectly acceptable and often interchangeable alternative. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey, with "anticipated" suggesting a more formal or planned expectation.

What is the difference between "lower than anticipated" and "higher than anticipated"?

"Lower than anticipated" indicates a result that is less than what was expected, whereas "higher than anticipated" indicates a result that exceeds expectations. They are antonyms used to describe deviations from projected outcomes.