only less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic phrase that can be used when describing a quantity, as in "there were only less than ten people at the meeting".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's only less than 80% of supply to meet the demand.

Cornell University

Hysteroscopically diagnosed hyperplasia of the endometrium was confirmed histologically in only less than half the cases.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Only less than a third of paralogs were common to the two datasets.

Nature

Worldwide, only less than 7% of fourth graders said they did no homework.

Independent

Only less than 1 in 3 people in this country will have the privilege of dying at home.

Stanford University

So I'll be producing this stuff, this water at cost c and only getting p, which is not only less than c in return.

Yale University

It caused only less than 0.25% hemolytic activity in the concentration of 256 μg/ml.

AMB Express

In most cases, there is only less than 0.2 dB PSNR discrepancy between them.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

There is only less than 2 dB difference between the SDP and the two-step estimator.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

In fact, the only less-than-enthralling set of the night comes from Snoop himself.

The Guardian - Music

That's not the only less-than-flattering remark she had about her first marriage while doing the rounds this week.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "only less than", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being compared. For instance, "The cost was only less than expected if you use the discount code".

Common error

Avoid using "only less than" when the difference is significant. If the difference is substantial, use phrases like "significantly less than" or "far below" for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only less than" functions as a quantifying expression, specifying that a certain amount is slightly below a stated value. According to Ludwig, the phrase is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

23%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only less than" is a versatile expression used to convey that a quantity is slightly smaller than a given value. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. It appears most frequently in scientific contexts but is also common in news and academic writing. When using "only less than", ensure that the context is clear and the difference being described is indeed small, and consider using alternative phrasing if the difference is substantial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely under

Replaces "only less than" with "merely under", emphasizing the small margin.

just below

Substitutes "only less than" with "just below", indicating a slight difference.

a little under

Changes "only less than" to "a little under", suggesting a minor decrease.

slightly fewer than

Changes "only less than" to "slightly fewer than", highlighting a small reduction.

marginally below

Substitutes "only less than" with "marginally below", stressing a minimal difference.

not quite as much as

Rephrases "only less than" to "not quite as much as", emphasizing the near miss.

a shade under

Replaces "only less than" with "a shade under", which is a more informal expression.

scarcely below

Rephrases "only less than" to "scarcely below", conveying a small and perhaps surprising difference.

hardly under

Replaces "only less than" with "hardly under", indicating a very small degree of difference.

negligibly lower than

Substitutes "only less than" with "negligibly lower than", emphasizing the insignificance of the difference.

FAQs

How can I use "only less than" in a sentence?

The phrase "only less than" is used to indicate that a value is slightly below a certain threshold. For example, "The project was "only less than" 5% over budget".

What can I say instead of "only less than"?

You can use alternatives like "just below", "slightly fewer than", or "a little under" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "only less than" or "less than only"?

"Only less than" is the idiomatic and correct order. "Less than only" is not commonly used and may sound awkward.

Is there a more formal way to say "only less than"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "marginally below" or "negligibly lower than". These options convey a similar meaning with greater precision.