not less than equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not less than equal" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize that something is at least equal to a certain value, but it is better to use clearer expressions. Example: "The final score must be not less than equal to the minimum requirement for passing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Network and ad executives said that Fox had guaranteed a rating not less than equal to what "Ally McBeal" scored last season.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was a world where women were not less than but equal to – a world, as the playwright Wendy Wasserstein put it, of "Uncommon Women".

The New York Times

A " no change" is indicated if the p-value is not less than or equal to 0.001.

BMC Plant Biology

The statistical tests indicate that the number of plants producing leaves in the presence of GSH is not less than or equal to the number producing leaves in the absence of GSH.

BMC Plant Biology

It is said that Col. Lee's loss was not less than 50,000 pounds (equal to £ today).

Wikipedia

The provision, as it is currently written, dictates that minor-league baseball players, during the league's championship season — i.e., not during spring training or the offseason — will be paid "at a rate that is not less than a weekly salary equal to the minimum wage" for a work week of forty hours, "irrespective of the number of hours the employee devotes to baseball related activities".

The New Yorker

The Agricultural Development plan proposed conservation and rehabilitation of protected forest equalling not less than 30percent of the national land area and promoted establishment of forest plantation in 2.56 million ha each of state and private land.

FAO

An entity receiving a grant under paragraph (5)(B) for applied research that is commodity-specific and not of national scope shall provide non-Federal matching funds equal to not less than the amount of the grant.

Cornell University

The Director of the Trade and Development Agency may not make any grant under this section unless there are made available non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than 25percentt of the amount of Federal funds provided under the grant.

Cornell University

Each recipient shall assure that contributions equal to not less than 25percentt of the grant amounts under this section are provided from non-Federal sources to carry out the homeownership program.

Cornell University

Each recipient shall assure that contributions equal to not less than 33percentt of the grant amounts made available under this section, excluding any amounts provided for post-sale operating expense, shall be provided from non-Federal sources to carry out the homeownership program.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, avoid using the phrase "not less than equal". Instead, opt for more straightforward alternatives like "at least equal to" or "greater than or equal to" to ensure your meaning is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using double negatives such as "not less than equal", as they can create confusion. Simplify your language to directly state the intended condition, like "must be equal to or greater than."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not less than equal" functions as a qualifier, intending to set a minimum threshold or requirement. However, it's an awkward construction, as Ludwig AI points out, and clearer alternatives are preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Science

28%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not less than equal" is an unconventional way to express a minimum requirement or threshold. As Ludwig AI highlights, its usage is often unclear and grammatically questionable. While it appears across various contexts, from news articles to scientific papers, it's best practice to avoid this phrase. Instead, opt for clearer, more direct alternatives such as "at least equal to" or "greater than or equal to". These alternatives enhance clarity and prevent potential misinterpretations, ensuring your message is accurately conveyed. Using these alternatives aligns with both grammatical correctness and audience understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at least equal to

Replaces the negative phrasing with a direct affirmation of equivalence or exceeding a value.

no less than equal to

Adds emphasis to the minimum requirement, making it more formal.

greater than or equal to

Uses standard mathematical terminology for clarity.

equal to or more than

Inverts the order for a different emphasis on the equivalence.

not smaller than equal to

Rephrases using antonyms to emphasize size relative to a threshold.

equivalent or superior to

Focuses on a comparative scale where equivalence is the minimum.

at a minimum equal to

Emphasizes that the specified value is the absolute lowest acceptable.

as much as or more than

Expresses quantity or amount with a minimum threshold.

not under the level of equality

Abstractly rephrases to highlight that being below equal is unacceptable.

matches or exceeds in value

Focuses on the value aspect, indicating that anything less is insufficient.

FAQs

What does "not less than equal" mean?

The phrase "not less than equal" is generally intended to convey a minimum threshold, meaning 'at least equal to' or 'greater than or equal to'. However, it's not standard English and can be confusing.

How can I rephrase "not less than equal" for better clarity?

For improved clarity, you can replace "not less than equal" with phrases like "at least equal to" or "greater than or equal to". These alternatives are more direct and easier to understand.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not less than equal"?

While the phrase "not less than equal" appears in some contexts, it's not considered grammatically standard. It's better to use clearer alternatives like "at least equal to" to avoid ambiguity.

What is the difference between "not less than equal" and "less than or equal to"?

"Not less than equal" intends to express a minimum value, while "less than or equal to" expresses a maximum value. To avoid confusion, use "greater than or equal to" instead of "not less than equal".