much less generous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much less generous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare two things, indicating that one is significantly less generous than the other. Example: "He is not only unkind, but he is much less generous than his brother."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Some are much less generous.

Independent

In fact some are much less generous.

Independent

Thames was forced to renegotiate a new deal, on much less generous terms.

The Guardian

(Toyota, by contrast, is almost entirely free of these burdens, at least in the U.S., because its workers are much younger and their benefits are much less generous).

The New Yorker

For everyone now under 55, he wants to turn Medicare into a voucher program that's much less generous than the program is scheduled to be.

The New York Times

But it has been much less generous with handing out citizenship, at least to those who can claim no German blood.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Now Mr. Gingrich is starting to flesh out that idea since he has revived his standing on the right wing of the party and appears to think he's got a shot at the nomination but it turns out to be much less thoughtful and generous than it appeared during the debate.

The New York Times

Barnardo's has announced it's closing its career average pension plan and shunting staff into a far less generous and much riskier money purchase scheme.

Independent

The workers told anybody who would listen how, with Bain Capital's backing, Ampad had fired two hundred and fifty union workers, offering to hire some of them back at much lower wages and with less generous health-care coverage.

The New Yorker

The other big change – making the new universal credit less generous – results in much bigger losses but to a smaller number of people.

The Guardian - Business

At the lower-income levels that package is either less generous or not much more generous than the 2003 tax cuts derided by the former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone as being barely enough to buy a sandwich and a milkshake.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two entities, ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared in terms of generosity. For example, "The new policy is "much less generous" than the previous one."

Common error

Avoid using "much less generous" when the difference is negligible. If the difference is minimal, consider using phrases like "slightly less generous" or "marginally less generous" to maintain accuracy and avoid exaggeration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less generous" primarily functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating a lower degree of generosity compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much less generous" is a grammatically correct and commonly used comparative adjective phrase that indicates a significant reduction in generosity. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its use in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in the comparison and avoid exaggeration if the difference is negligible. Consider alternatives like "considerably less generous" or "far less generous" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably less generous

Emphasizes a substantial decrease in generosity by using "considerably" instead of "much".

far less generous

Uses "far" to highlight a significant difference in generosity.

markedly less generous

Indicates a noticeable or distinct reduction in generosity through the use of "markedly".

significantly less generous

Replaces "much" with "significantly" to underscore the importance of the reduced generosity.

noticeably less generous

Suggests that the reduction in generosity is easily observed or apparent.

appreciably less generous

Highlights that the decrease in generosity is substantial enough to be measured or felt.

substantially less generous

Indicates a considerable amount less of generosity.

a good deal less generous

Uses the idiom "a good deal" to express a significant difference in generosity.

not nearly as generous

Expresses a lower level of generosity using a more indirect comparison.

somewhat stingier

Replaces the entire phrase with a single, more direct adjective indicating a lack of generosity.

FAQs

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

Use "much less generous" to compare two things, showing that one is significantly less generous than the other. For example, "The company's new benefits package is "much less generous" than the previous one."

What are some alternatives to "much less generous"?

You can use alternatives like "considerably less generous", "far less generous", or "significantly less generous", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "much less generous" or "a lot less generous"?

Both "much less generous" and "a lot less generous" are grammatically correct, but "much less generous" is generally considered more formal and is preferred in professional writing. "A lot less generous" is more common in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "less generous" and "much less generous"?

"Less generous" indicates a simple comparison, while "much less generous" emphasizes that the difference in generosity is substantial or significant. The addition of "much" amplifies the degree to which one thing is less generous than another.