much less expensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much less expensive" is grammatically correct.
You can use it when comparing two similar items of differing prices. For example: "The organic apples were much less expensive than the non-organic variety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is much less expensive.

University of California, Berkeley

It is much less expensive than America.

The New York Times

"It's much less expensive," Ms. Coover said.

The New York Times

Painting is much less expensive than carpet".

The New York Times

South Africa is also much less expensive.

The New York Times

The stove approach is much less expensive.

The New York Times

They are also much less expensive.

The New York Times - Health

Shortening is much less expensive than butter.

The New York Times - Food

The LEDs are also much less expensive than a laser.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

This makes dining much less expensive, but just as enjoyable.

The New York Times

This made the process much less expensive on several levels.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing costs, be specific about what you are comparing. For instance, instead of saying "Product A is much less expensive", specify "Product A is much less expensive than Product B due to its simpler design."

Common error

Avoid using "much less expensive" without a clear point of reference. It's important to specify what the item is less expensive than to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less expensive" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun by indicating that it has a significantly lower cost than something else. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in comparative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much less expensive" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase for indicating a significant cost difference between two items or options. Ludwig confirms its correctness and frequency across various contexts. It is particularly common in news, academic, and scientific publications, where clear and neutral language is preferred. When using this phrase, ensure a clear comparison point to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "significantly cheaper" or "substantially more affordable" depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably less expensive

Emphasizes the degree of cost reduction more strongly.

significantly cheaper

Uses "cheaper" for a more informal tone.

substantially more affordable

Focuses on the affordability aspect rather than just the cost difference.

markedly lower in price

More formal and explicitly references the price.

noticeably more economical

Highlights the economic benefits or savings.

a great deal less costly

Emphasizes the magnitude of cost reduction, similar to considerably.

appreciably less expensive

Similar to considerably, but slightly less emphatic.

substantially reduced in price

Focuses on the price being reduced by a significant amount.

a lot cheaper

More casual and informal way to express lower cost.

far more affordable

Similar to significantly cheaper, emphasizing affordability.

FAQs

How can I use "much less expensive" in a sentence?

You can use "much less expensive" to compare the cost of two items, indicating that one is significantly cheaper than the other. For example, "Traveling by bus is "much less expensive" than flying."

What is a more formal alternative to "much less expensive"?

A more formal alternative to "much less expensive" could be "significantly more economical" or "substantially lower in price". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What's the difference between "much less expensive" and "slightly less expensive"?

"Much less expensive" indicates a significant cost difference, while "slightly less expensive" suggests a minor cost difference. The choice depends on the magnitude of the price variation you want to convey.

Which is correct: "much less expensive" or "much cheaper"?

Both "much less expensive" and "much cheaper" are correct, but "much less expensive" is generally considered more formal. The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.