lower than needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lower than needed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity or level that is insufficient for a particular purpose or requirement. Example: "The budget allocated for the project is lower than needed, which may affect its success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The figures showed an 85% shortfall in the number of trainee teachers required to fill vacancies in social sciences and business studies, while the number of new teachers for design and technology was more than a third lower than needed.

The Guardian

We now expand δ U ( 1 / N ) up to the order O ( 1 N 3 ), thus neglecting higher orders because they contribute to the definition of Π variable and we need terms at least of order O ( 1 N 3 ) (one order lower than needed to define Θ).

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

The researchers administered doses of 30 mg or 70 mg of the drug over two separate trials, which are both doses lower than needed to induce feelings of euphoria.

Vice

The first year a home is purchased can be a difficult year to itemize (depending on the timing of the purchase) because, the later in the year you buy your house the less interest and real estate taxes you will pay, making your itemized deduction total lower than needed in many cases.

Huffington Post

However, it seems questionable that the circulating forms of RAGE exert a biological effect, since the sRAGE concentrations found in plasma are ~ 1000 times lower than needed for the binding of AGEs [ 10].

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Very low IL-17A concentrations were needed to induce TRAP+ cells (0.1 to 1 ng/ml) - concentrations much lower than needed to drive maximal proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression by endothelial and mesenchymal cells (unpublished data).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Also, perindopril increases bradykinin levels at lower doses than needed to reduce angiotensin II levels [ 28].

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy

These data demonstrate that the disinhibitory effect of IL-6 is achieved at lower concentrations than needed for maximal neurite growth stimulation.

Cell Death and Disease

The relatively high rate of recurrence in campylobacteriosis cases may suggest that people in Quebec, like in other regions of industrialized countries, might be exposed to Campylobacter at lower levels than needed to develop an effective immunity.

BMC Public Health

Biomonitoring programs for assessing exposure to environmental chemicals generally require the measurement of the relevant analytes at much lower concentrations than needed in human clinical or animal toxicology studies, thus posing considerable challenges.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The level of fluoride needed to enhance remineralization is considerably lower than that needed for the inhibition of demineralization or for an antibacterial effect.

BMC Oral Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "lower than needed", ensure the context clearly defines what the necessary or expected level is. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "lower than needed" is generally acceptable, in highly formal or academic writing, consider using more precise alternatives such as "insufficient" or "below the required threshold" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower than needed" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It typically modifies a noun, indicating that a certain quantity, level, or amount is less than what is required or necessary for a particular purpose. This is supported by examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lower than needed" is a grammatically sound comparative phrase used to express that something is insufficient for a particular purpose. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While it appears in various contexts, it is most frequently found in scientific and news-related articles. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the necessary level to avoid ambiguity. For more formal writing, consider alternatives such as "insufficient" or "below the required threshold".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than required

Emphasizes a lack of compliance with a specific requirement.

insufficient

A more concise and direct way of expressing inadequacy.

inadequate

Similar to "insufficient", but can also imply a lack of quality.

not enough

A simple and straightforward alternative.

below the required level

More formal and emphasizes a specific standard.

deficient

Highlights a lack of something essential or necessary.

subpar

Suggests something is below an expected or acceptable standard.

falling short of

Indicates a failure to reach a desired goal or standard.

lacking

Emphasizes the absence of something necessary.

under the necessary amount

Focuses on a specific quantifiable shortage.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "lower than needed" in a sentence?

You can replace "lower than needed" with alternatives like "less than required", "insufficient", or "inadequate" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lower than needed"?

Yes, "lower than needed" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a quantity or level that is insufficient for a particular purpose.

What's the difference between "lower than needed" and "lower than expected"?

"Lower than needed" implies a deficiency in reaching a required level, while "lower than expected" suggests a deviation from a predicted or anticipated level.

When is it appropriate to use "lower than needed" in writing?

Use "lower than needed" when you want to indicate that something is not sufficient to meet a specific requirement or purpose. For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like ""less than required"" or ""insufficient"".