lower than planned

USAGE SUMMARY

'lower than planned' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare an actual result to an expected result. For example: "Sales for the month of March were 20% lower than planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Q: And the package will be £10bn lower than planned?

The Guardian

As a consequence, our initial audience levels and advertising revenues have been lower than planned.

The Guardian

When revenues turned out to be much lower than planned, it supposedly didn't matter.

The Economist

Shipments of photovoltaic solar panels are expected to be lower than planned.

The New York Times

For the past two years, however, catches have been far lower than planned after clashes with activists from the marine conservation group Sea Shepherd.

The Guardian

Looking at making public sector pay "more responsive" to local pay rates.. Government spending in Afghanistan will be £2.4bn lower than planned over remainder of parliament.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Headwinds and downdrafts meant flying at a lower altitude than planned, which used up power too quickly.

The Economist

It said it was coming into the second half from a lower base than planned, and warned that while revenue trends were expected to improve, they could still be hit by market volatility for the rest of the year.

The Guardian - Business

In the second half of fiscal year 2015, Phone Hardware did not meet its sales volume and revenue goals, and the mix of units sold had lower margins than planned.

TechCrunch

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, Phone Hardware did not meet its sales volume and revenue goals, and the mix of units sold had lower margins than planned.

TechCrunch

Sixth, the intracluster correlations for this sample were much higher than reported in the study on which our power calculations were based, which resulted in lower power than planned.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lower than planned", ensure you clearly state what was initially planned to provide context for the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "lower than planned" without specifying the initial plan or benchmark; otherwise, the statement lacks context and significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower than planned" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that something is less than it was initially intended or scheduled to be. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lower than planned" is a commonly used comparative phrase that effectively communicates a difference between an intended or projected outcome and the actual result. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is suitable for various contexts, including news reports, scientific studies, and business communications, where it serves to provide context and explanation for deviations from expectations. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, ensure clarity by specifying the initial plan when using this phrase. Alternatives like ""below expectations"" or ""less than anticipated"" can be considered for nuanced expression. The phrase is observed in a variety of authoritative sources, which solidifies its reliability and usability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

below expectations

Focuses on the unmet expectations rather than the planning stage.

less than anticipated

Emphasizes the element of surprise or unforeseen circumstances.

under the projected amount

Highlights the difference in numerical terms, particularly in financial contexts.

short of the target

Specifically refers to not achieving a pre-defined goal.

fewer than projected

It is more suitable when referring to countable items or occurrences.

beneath the forecast

Relates directly to predictive assessments and their inaccuracies.

not as high as expected

Highlights that something did not reach the assumed height or degree.

below the benchmark

Implies that the actual outcome falls short of an established standard.

under budget

Used exclusively in financial contexts when spending is less than allocated.

smaller than envisioned

Suggests a discrepancy between the original vision and the actual result.

FAQs

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

You can use "lower than planned" to describe situations where actual outcomes are less than expected, such as "Sales were "lower than planned" due to unforeseen market conditions".

What are some alternatives to "lower than planned"?

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

Is it always negative when something is "lower than planned"?

While often negative, such as in sales or production, being "lower than planned" can be positive in contexts like expenses or resource consumption. The implication depends on the specific scenario.

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

"Lower than planned" refers specifically to a deviation from an initial plan, while "lower than expected" is a broader term that could refer to any expectation, whether or not it was part of a formal plan.