much less that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'much less that' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to stress the idea that something is even less than something else. For example, "I hardly expected to make a profit on the project, much less that it would be so successful!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I can barely keep track of my glasses, much less that.

The New York Times

Accept the fact other things will matter much less that are unrelated to your friend's children and determine whether this matters to you or not.

WikiHow

Most of us do not know or understand our own religion, much less that of others.

The New York Times

Today, the marital status of a child's parents affects much less that child's future.

The New York Times

It's amazing that anyone could get K-Doe to do anything, much less that".

The New York Times

That means investors don't expect that the deal will happen — much less that Glencore will sweeten the bid.

The New York Times

Why should we expect them to understand the politics of Congress, much less that of the Middle East?

The New Yorker

There is no assurance that Pyongyang will respond positively to such an approach, much less that negotiations will be successful.

The New York Times

I cannot quite believe that she really existed, much less that I once shared a desk with her.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I was doing much less that anybody else did, from Schilling to Nixon to Ortiz and Kapler.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Baalbaki has not told his parents that he belly-dances, much less that he belly-dances in public.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "much less that" to emphasize a contrast between two unlikely scenarios, highlighting the greater improbability of the second one.

Common error

Avoid using "much less that" in situations where you are not highlighting a contrast between two increasingly unlikely scenarios. For instance, using it to simply add information without implying a contrast can sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less that" functions as a conjunctive adverb used to introduce a statement that is even less likely or plausible than a preceding one. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

19%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much less that" is a grammatically correct conjunctive phrase used to emphasize the unlikelihood of a statement relative to a previous one. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently found in news, scientific, and general contexts to create a sense of contrast and highlight the greater improbability of a situation. While versatile, it should be used judiciously to ensure the emphasis on contrast is clear. Common alternatives include "let alone that" and "not to mention that", offering similar but subtly different nuances. It’s important to be aware of the potential misuse of "much less that" in non-contrastive situations, and the user should use it carefully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

let alone that

Focuses on impossibility given a prior condition; implies a stronger degree of improbability.

even less that

Emphasizes the reduced quantity or degree in comparison to something already small.

still less that

Indicates a further reduction in possibility or degree compared to a previous statement.

far less that

Highlights a significant difference in the amount or extent.

not to mention that

Adds emphasis by introducing a point that is even more unlikely or noteworthy.

much fewer that

Used specifically when referring to countable items rather than abstract quantities.

to say nothing of that

Brings attention to something even more important or relevant than what was previously mentioned.

to a lesser extent that

Indicates a reduced degree or impact compared to something else.

hardly that

Suggests something is barely true or possible, if at all.

considerably less that

Emphasizes a noticeable reduction in amount or importance.

FAQs

How to use "much less that" in a sentence?

Use "much less that" to indicate that if one thing is not true or possible, then another thing is even less likely to be true or possible. For example, "I don't even have time to relax, "much less that" I have time for a vacation".

What can I say instead of "much less that"?

You can use alternatives like "let alone that", "not to mention that", or "still less that" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "much less that" or "much less than"?

While "much less than" is used for comparisons of quantity, "much less that" is used to emphasize the unlikelihood of a subsequent event given the unlikelihood of a previous one. They serve different grammatical purposes.

What's the difference between "much less that" and "let alone that"?

Both phrases indicate something is even more improbable than something else, but "let alone that" often carries a stronger sense of impossibility and is more direct in its contrast.