much less reliable

USAGE SUMMARY

"much less reliable" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has decreased in reliability. For example, "The new machine is much less reliable than the older model."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since ascending to the No. 1 ranking last year, Azarenka has been a model of consistency, bringing reliability to the top spot previously occupied by much less reliable players.

The New York Times

But what is much less reliable is the ethnicity figures.

The Guardian - Money

But businesses are much less reliable creditors than households.

The Economist

If a confidence interval is wide, the forecast is much less reliable.

The New Yorker

It's also cause for befuddlement, because so much else about Barbuto is so much less reliable.

The New York Times - Food

Gone is the much less reliable paper-and-fax system some teams still use.

The New York Times - Sports

They were supposed to run almost constantly, but proved much less reliable.

The Economist

Job growth has been a much less reliable guide to the general election result in these years.

The New York Times

Basra's 1.4m or so residents occasionally enjoy 24-hour electricity; elsewhere in the region, it is much less reliable.

The Economist

And, in the US, without extensive backup capacity or a grid connection, distributed solar is much less reliable than the grid.

University of California, Berkeley

But these updates are rarely large updates, and I find them much less reliable than a solid argument for why an approach is doomed.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the reliability of two or more things, ensure the context is clear by specifying what each is being compared to. For example, "Using a map is much less reliable than using a GPS in unfamiliar areas."

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the lack of reliability. "Much less reliable" suggests a significant but not necessarily complete absence of reliability. If something is completely unreliable, use stronger terms like "unreliable" or "completely useless".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less reliable" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe something that possesses a significantly lower degree of reliability compared to something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

52%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much less reliable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a significant decrease in dependability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase in English writing. It appears most commonly in news and media, and science contexts, indicating a wide range of application from formal to neutral registers. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and avoid overstating the degree of unreliability. Remember to use stronger terms when something is completely unreliable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly less dependable

Emphasizes a notable decrease in dependability.

considerably less trustworthy

Highlights a substantial reduction in trustworthiness.

noticeably less certain

Focuses on a perceptible drop in certainty.

appreciably less predictable

Stresses a marked decline in predictability.

markedly less accurate

Indicates a clear decrease in accuracy.

substantially less robust

Suggests a significant weakening in robustness.

distinctly less solid

Points to a clear lack of solidity.

measurably less consistent

Focuses on a quantifiable decrease in consistency.

demonstrably less authoritative

Highlights a proven reduction in authority.

patently less believable

Stresses an obvious decline in believability.

FAQs

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

You can use "much less reliable" to compare the dependability of two things, indicating one is significantly less trustworthy than the other. For example, "Eyewitness accounts are "much less reliable" than video evidence".

What are some alternatives to "much less reliable"?

Alternatives include "significantly less dependable", "considerably less trustworthy", or "noticeably less certain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "much less reliable"?

Yes, "much less reliable" is grammatically correct. The phrase uses "much" to intensify the comparative adjective "less reliable", indicating a significant difference in reliability.

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

"Less reliable" indicates a simple difference in reliability, while "much less reliable" emphasizes a greater degree of difference. The addition of "much" intensifies the comparison, suggesting a more significant reduction in dependability.