poorly less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorly less than" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words that does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "The results were poorly less than expected, leading to further investigation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By the standards of the legal profession, they are paid poorly (less than two hundred thousand dollars a year), but they enjoy considerable prestige.

The New Yorker

Among the 2,011 targeted exons, only 15 exons (0.7%) were covered poorly (less than five times on average), either due to high GC contents or the abundant presence of repetitive sequences (Figs. 1E and 1F).

Human Mutation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Less Than Jake.

WikiHow

Two other STARD items were poorly reported (less than 50% of time): participant sampling method (31%) and statistical methods to calculate diagnostic accuracy and uncertainty/precision (47%).

Plosone

Motif Sd_2, on the other hand, is also poorly represented (less than 35% of promoters) on both strands at the region -150 to -200.

BMC Systems Biology

Surprisingly, motif Plt_2 is poorly present (less than 8% of promoters) at the region -150 to -200 on plus strand, while its presence is more clearly visible near the core promoter region.

BMC Systems Biology

Since motifs Rt_1 and Rt_2 are poorly present (less than 40% of promoters) at the region 0 to -50 on both strands, the TFs of both motifs might be somehow linked.

BMC Systems Biology

The differentiation of SQCLC was categorized as follows: well differentiated, more than 50% of obvious keratin pearl or intercellular bridge observed in tumor tissues; moderately differentiated, 20 50% of keratin pearl or intercellular bridge observed in tumor tissues; and poorly differentiated, less than 20% of keratin pearl or intercellular bridge.

BMC Cancer

Differentiation grading was based on the formation of glands: in well-differentiated cancers, more than 90% of the tumour cells formed glands; moderately-differentiated 30 to 90%; poorly-differentiated less than 30%.

British Journal of Cancer

For those who don't, the perhaps poorly named HTC ChaCha boasts less-than-impressive specs but gets points for originality due to its dedicated Facebook button.

TechCrunch

Police officers are poorly paid, earning less than $500 a month when starting their careers, leading many to corruption.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "poorly less than" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "significantly less than" or "substantially below" to ensure accurate and effective communication.

Common error

The combination of "poorly" and "less than" can inadvertently create a double negative, leading to confusion. Ensure your intended meaning is clear by using a single, direct term to express a smaller quantity or lower quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly less than" functions as an attempt to express a comparative relationship, indicating that something is both inadequate and of a smaller quantity or lower quality than something else. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this combination is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "poorly less than" is grammatically questionable and not recommended for use in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, the combination is considered incorrect. While the available examples suggest an attempt to express something being both inadequate and of a smaller quantity, clearer alternatives such as "significantly less than" or "substantially below" are preferable. Its usage is rare and spans across Science and News & Media. It's crucial to prioritize grammatical correctness and clarity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly less than

Emphasizes a substantial difference in quantity or degree.

considerably smaller than

Highlights a notable size or amount disparity.

substantially below

Focuses on being under a certain level or standard.

far below

Implies a large difference and possibly disappointment.

markedly lower than

Draws attention to a distinct reduction or decrease.

noticeably inferior to

Conveys a clear difference in quality, suggesting poorer performance.

of lower quality than

Explicitly states a reduced quality level.

not nearly as good as

Indicates a considerable disparity in positive attributes.

falls short of

Highlights a failure to meet an expected standard.

performs worse than

Directly compares performance levels, indicating a poorer outcome.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "poorly less than"?

Alternatives include "significantly less than", "substantially below", or "markedly lower than", depending on the specific context.

Is "poorly less than" grammatically correct?

No, "poorly less than" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more precise and clear phrasing.

How can I avoid using "poorly less than" in my writing?

Focus on using more direct and unambiguous language. For example, instead of saying something performs "poorly less than" expected, say it performs "significantly below" expectations.

What's the difference between "poorly less than" and "far less than"?

"Poorly less than" is grammatically awkward and not recommended. "Far less than" is a correct and common way to indicate a considerable difference in quantity or degree.