much less often

USAGE SUMMARY

"much less often" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something happens less frequently. For example, "People come to the library much less often now that so much information can be accessed online."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Much, much less often.

The Guardian

And it happens much less often.

The New York Times

Much less often, activist short sellers are classified as single individuals launching a short campaign.

Harvard University

"The button has been used much less often than we anticipated," he said.

The New Yorker

As team president, Jordan was mostly heard about here and seen much less often.

The New York Times

Much less often, a manufacturer decides to spend its skunk-works budget modifying a car's suspension.

The New York Times

The report finds that newly listed companies use them much less often than established firms.

The Economist

We imported "data" and use it frequently in English; we use "datum" much less often.

The Economist

But officials said that the rest of the sites would be checked much less often.

The Washington Post

The team went out on patrols with the Iraqis much less often.

The New York Times

Corporations had already been incurring alternative minimum tax bills much less often than individuals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "far less often" or "significantly less often" to add variety and nuance to your writing. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "much less often" when a simple "less often" is sufficient. "Much" is best reserved for situations where the decrease in frequency is substantial and worth emphasizing. Overusing "much" can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less often" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the frequency with which an action occurs. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in comparing frequencies, as in "Services happen much less often at a restored church in Shanghai".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much less often" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that signifies a notable reduction in frequency. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's particularly common in news, science, and academic writing, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist employing it regularly. To enhance writing, consider using synonyms such as "far less often" or "significantly less often" for variety. When using "much less often", ensure a clear contrast with a previously mentioned higher frequency, and avoid overuse to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far less often

Emphasizes the reduced frequency to a greater degree than the original phrase.

significantly less often

Highlights the notable difference in frequency.

substantially less often

Indicates a considerable reduction in how often something occurs.

considerably less often

Similar to significantly, but can also imply a more noticeable difference.

much more rarely

Replaces "less often" with its synonym to alter the expression.

to a significantly lesser extent

Alters the structure to emphasize the degree of reduction rather than the frequency directly.

to a considerably smaller degree

Shifts focus to the extent of impact from a smaller amount.

noticeably less frequently

Highlights how frequent something happens in a way that it can be easily observed.

appreciably less frequently

A more formal expression emphasizing the noticeable reduction in frequency.

markedly less often

Implies that the reduction in frequency is easily noticeable.

FAQs

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

You can use "much less often" to indicate a significant decrease in the frequency of an action or event. For example, "People visit libraries "much less often" since the advent of online resources".

What are some alternatives to saying "much less often"?

Alternatives include "far less often", "significantly less often", or "substantially less often". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "much less often than not"?

While not strictly grammatically incorrect, "much less often than not" can be considered redundant. "Less often than not" already implies that something happens infrequently. Adding "much" may not add significant meaning.

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

"Less often" simply indicates a decrease in frequency, while ""much less often"" emphasizes that the decrease is significant or substantial. The choice depends on the degree of difference you want to highlight.