more scant than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more scant than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the scarcity or insufficiency of something in relation to another. Example: "The resources available for the project were more scant than we had anticipated, leading to delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The reports are becoming a tick-box pro forma, and are more scant than they used to be without a shadow of doubt," says Jumnoodoo.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Evidence on the Middle East and North Africa is more scant (see Gatti et al. 2012).

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

But likelihoods are more scant, by comparison.

Huffington Post

Accompanied by educational advisors, the girls eat, play and pray amidst traditions neither has had more than scant familiarity with.

The New York Times

In Maine and Ohio, two other married women, Mary Brown and Elizabeth Finnern, found they had scant more patience than Martha Lindley.

Huffington Post

And you don't need much more than a scant snifter of this syrupy, boozy treat.

Los Angeles Times

That is clearly important and vital to nuclear security, but the possibility that state or non-state actors might harness the controls in a nuclear facility deserves more than the scant attention it has received until recently.

Huffington Post

More applause than the (scant) mention of Google+ integrations?

TechCrunch

Any researcher or graduate student who has ever performed a lab experiment knows that achieving an accurate, reproducible result is often less of a science and more of an art and certainly much more complex than some scant "methods" sections would lead one to believe.

Science Magazine

Mark Hughes paid tribute to Peter Crouch, a player the manager admits he has disappointed more than most through scant use this season, but who played for the whole 120 minutes before seeing his penalty saved.

The Guardian - Sport

No blackberries more delicious than your own scant handful, the thrill made more intense by their scarcity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more scant than", ensure you are comparing two specific entities or situations where the scarcity or insufficiency of one is being emphasized relative to the other. This provides clarity and context to your comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "more scant than" when you simply mean "smaller". "Scant" implies a deficiency or insufficiency, not just a small size. If size is the only factor, use "smaller than" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more scant than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating that something possesses a smaller amount or degree of something in comparison to something else. Ludwig AI confirms this is a valid phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more scant than" is used to compare the relative lack or insufficiency of something. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English, though it's relatively rare. The phrase primarily appears in News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, ensure that "scant" is used to imply a deficiency, not simply a small size, and that you are clearly comparing two distinct entities. Alternatives include "less abundant than" and "more limited than".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more scarce than

Replaces "scant" with "scarce", another synonym indicating a lack of availability.

more sparse than

Similar to scant, emphasizing that something is thinly distributed or not dense.

less abundant than

Uses "less abundant" to indicate a smaller quantity or supply compared to something else.

more limited than

Employs "more limited" to suggest restrictions or constraints exceeding those of another item.

more meager than

Substitutes "scant" with "meager", highlighting the smallness or inadequacy of something.

not as plentiful as

Uses a negative construction to convey that something is less abundant than another.

in shorter supply than

Emphasizes that something is less available compared to something else.

more restricted than

Indicates stricter limitations or constraints in comparison.

more deficient than

Focuses on the lack or shortage of something compared to something else.

smaller in quantity than

Directly compares the amount of something using a straightforward comparative structure.

FAQs

How can I use "more scant than" in a sentence?

Use "more scant than" to compare the limited nature of one thing to another, for example: "The evidence presented was "more scant than" initially expected."

What are some alternatives to "more scant than"?

You can use phrases like "less abundant than", "more limited than", or "more scarce than" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "more scant than"?

Yes, "more scant than" is grammatically correct. It is used to make a comparison, indicating that something is more deficient or insufficient than something else.

What's the difference between "more scant than" and "more limited than"?

"More scant than" emphasizes a lack of something, while ""more limited than"" suggests restrictions or constraints. They are similar, but the specific nuance differs.