measured less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "measured less than" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used when comparing quantities or sizes. Example: The blue whale measured less than the humpback whale, even though it is the largest animal in the world.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

(It measured less than four by five inches).

The New Yorker

Golden Days The country measured less than 200 miles in any direction.

The New York Times - Books

Average precipitation across Spain this winter measured less than 3 inches, or 35percentt of typical levels.

The New York Times

All lesions measured less than 1 cm in diameter.

Annals of Diagnostic Pathology

In healthy control subjects, the iliococcygeal width measured less than 40 mm and the iliococcygeal angle measured less than 20 degrees.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

For the output power of about 47 W, the power fluctuation is measured less than 1%.

Optics Communications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

"It's measuring less than 20% of people visiting the park," he said.

The Guardian

Yes, they are thicker than the thinnest LCDs, but they still measure less than four inches.

The New York Times - Tech

That is, useless to a normal car, but not one measuring less than five feet wide.

The New York Times

If an alligator measures less than four feet, clemency is bestowed and it gets relocated.

The New York Times

Microcephaly is a neurological disorder that causes an infant's head to measure less than 33cm.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include the specific unit of measurement (e.g. inches, mm, g, km) immediately following the threshold to ensure clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "measured less than" when referring to countable objects. While "less than" is appropriate for continuous measurements (like weight or length), use "fewer than" if you are discussing a specific number of individual items. For example, say "the sample measured less than five grams" but "fewer than five samples were taken".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "measured less than" functions as a comparative predicate. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to convey that a specific attribute (length, weight, volume or numerical value) falls below a defined limit. It combines the past participle of the verb "measure" with a comparative prepositional phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Social Media

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "measured less than" is an essential tool for any writer dealing with data, physical dimensions or scientific observations. As shown in the examples from Ludwig, it is highly prevalent in medical journals, environmental reports and technical news. It offers a level of precision and formality that simpler phrases like "was under" lack. It is universally accepted as grammatically correct and is especially useful for setting quantitative boundaries. When using it, remember to keep the unit of measurement clear and distinguish between mass nouns (using "less than") and count nouns (using "fewer than") to maintain the highest linguistic standards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was under

A simpler and more conversational alternative often used in general news reporting.

was below

Commonly used for spatial measurements or values on a vertical scale.

came in at under

A more idiomatic or journalistic way to report a resulting figure.

amounted to less than

Focuses on the total sum or quantity resulting from a process.

totaled less than

Specific to counts, costs or cumulative measurements.

recorded less than

Emphasizes the act of logging the data or the instrument's reading.

fell short of

Often used when the measurement is compared to a specific target or expectation.

was smaller than

A more basic description focusing on size rather than the act of measurement.

didn't reach

A more casual way to indicate a measurement was below a certain threshold.

was shorter than

A specific alternative used only when referring to length or duration.

FAQs

How do I use "measured less than" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an object's dimensions or a data point. For example, "The specimen measured less than two centimeters in length."

What can I say instead of "measured less than"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was under", "was below" or "totaled less than".

Is it "measured less than" or "measured fewer than"?

Use "measured less than" for continuous quantities like weight, time and distance. "Fewer than" is reserved for countable, individual items (e.g. "fewer than five birds").

Can "measured less than" be used for abstract quantities?

Yes, it is often used for abstract but quantifiable data, such as percentages or fluctuations. For instance, "The error rate measured less than 1% during testing."