much less strict

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much less strict" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the level of strictness between two subjects, indicating that one is significantly less strict than the other. Example: "The new policy is much less strict than the previous one, allowing for more flexibility in decision-making."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The rules there are much less strict than they are elsewhere".

The Guardian

"Before the Michigan State story, the C.I.A. rarely received negative press, much less strict oversight," Richardson writes.

The New York Times - Books

They are controversial because of much less strict laws governing disclosure of donor identities and how much any individual can fork over.

The Guardian

Tempora [GCHQ's internet surveillance program] is really proof … that GCHQ has much less strict legal restrictions than other western government intelligence.

The Guardian

Jews living in Tehran are much less strict in their beliefs than those in Shiraz, and it is conceivable that this led to somebody supplying bait for the undiscerning Iranian authorities, thus prompting an investigation.

The Economist

How E.U.'s Google Fine Explains High Cellphone Costs in the U.S. In the past two decades, antitrust enforcement in the United States has been much less strict than in Europe.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

But since you would be doing them a favor by taking over a lease that one of their customers could no longer afford to pay for, they are much less stricter in their scrutiny.

HuffPost

Now, while Facebook's 370 million European users will remain under the auspices of Facebook Ireland, everyone else gets moved to Facebook Inc, based in Menlo Park, which has to comply with the much-less-strict U.S. data protection laws.

Vice

They are much less likely to have strict dress code restrictions and much more likely to have outlets for expression such as school newspapers and journalism programs.

The Washington Post

Joseph Vause, the company's vice president of electronic commerce, says that the difficulty stems as much from cultural confusion as from less strict credit card authorization policies abroad, which lead to fraud.

Forbes

They see much more of a nuance and less strict fundamentalist viewpoint.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing rules, regulations, or standards, use "much less strict" to emphasize a notable difference in their level of enforcement or severity.

Common error

While "much less strict" is grammatically sound, avoid using it excessively in very informal settings. Simpler alternatives like "more relaxed" or "easier" might be more appropriate depending on context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less strict" functions as a comparative modifier, typically used to describe a noun or situation. As suggested by Ludwig, this highlights a contrast in strictness between two entities, implying that one is considerably more lenient than the other.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "much less strict" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative modifier used to emphasize a significant difference in the level of stringency between two compared subjects. As pointed out by Ludwig, its usage spans across different contexts, from news reporting to scientific publications, with a tendency toward a neutral and objective tone. While grammatically correct, it is recommended that the user avoids overuse in very informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far less stringent

Indicates a more significant reduction in strictness, emphasizing the difference in rigidity.

considerably more lenient

Highlights the increased degree of permissiveness or tolerance.

significantly more relaxed

Emphasizes the decrease in tension or rigidity.

appreciably more permissive

Stresses the noticeable increase in allowing or tolerating something.

markedly more flexible

Highlights the increased adaptability and reduced inflexibility.

substantially less rigid

Focuses on the significant reduction in inflexibility or firmness.

noticeably more tolerant

Emphasizes the observable increase in acceptance or forbearance.

moderately more accommodating

Suggests a reasonable increase in willingness to adjust to someone's needs.

somewhat less severe

Highlights a slight reduction in the harshness or intensity.

measurably less demanding

Indicates a reduction in the level of expectations or requirements.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "much less strict" in a sentence?

You can substitute it with phrases like "far less stringent", "considerably more lenient", or "significantly more relaxed" to achieve a similar effect.

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

Yes, "much less strict" is grammatically correct. It's used to compare the degree of strictness between two things, indicating one is significantly less stringent than the other.

What does "much less strict" imply?

The phrase "much less strict" implies a notable relaxation of rules, regulations, or standards. It suggests a considerable difference in the level of enforcement or severity compared to something else.

When is it appropriate to use "much less strict" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "much less strict" when you want to clearly emphasize a substantial difference in the level of strictness or severity between two subjects, such as policies, rules, or regulations.