practically less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically less than" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that something is almost or nearly less than a certain amount or value, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "The cost of the project is practically less than what we budgeted for."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

All operations of method are elementary integer arithmetic and numbers of iterations are bounded to practically less than 10 times.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The accuracy of RT predictions was not high enough to distinguish the structural isomers such as cis/trans and acyl chain positions because the RT differences of their isomers are practically less than 10 s.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The maximum particle size of Portland cement is less than 75 μm in a dry state, and its remained the same on a 45 μm-sieve making it practically less than 10% by mass.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Practically less important than banking, football's symbolic reach is infinitely greater, the grotesque injustice of the dual labour market more transparent.

The Guardian - Opinion

In general, the CN,B NTs have practically less potential for the adsorption of NO molecule than CB and CN ones.

Surface Science

Less Than Jake.

WikiHow

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, however, calculates the increased cost as practically infinitesimal: less than 0.5%.

Los Angeles Times

Detailed analysis of the identifiability properties are incorporated in the Additional file 1: Supplemental Tables S1 and S2 showing how the addition of the optimally designed experiment led the mean value μ ES 2 to practically coincide, less than 1% relative error, with the nominal θ * value.

BMC Systems Biology

Whether the structure could ever become practically useful remains an intriguing though less-than-revolutionary question.

The New York Times - Arts

He created this party practically single-handedly in less than three months".

The New York Times

The release of hazardous nanoparticulate matter in accidental situations was simulated in a specially designed 13-m3 stainless steel airtight chamber, which allowed the dispersion analysis of airborne matter in a practically particle-free environment (less than 2 #/cm3) and in presence of background atmospheric aerosols.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider alternatives like "virtually less than" or "almost less than" for improved clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "practically less than" when the difference is actually significant. This can mislead readers and undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically less than" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a value is almost below a certain threshold. Ludwig AI shows examples where it describes a negligible difference, often in scientific or technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practically less than" is used to indicate that a value is nearly or almost less than a specified amount, suggesting the difference is negligible. Although grammatically acceptable, according to Ludwig AI it may not be the most elegant choice. It appears primarily in scientific and news contexts. When writing, consider alternatives like "virtually less than" or "almost less than" for improved clarity. Avoid using it when the difference is actually significant to prevent misleading the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually less than

Emphasizes that the difference is so small as to be almost nonexistent.

almost less than

Directly indicates that something is close to being less than a certain amount.

effectively less than

Highlights that, for all practical purposes, the amount is lower.

in effect less than

Similar to 'effectively', suggesting the result is a reduced amount.

substantially under

Indicates a considerable difference below a certain threshold.

nominally less than

Suggests the difference is only in name or on paper, but not in reality.

marginally below

Indicates a very small difference below a certain point.

slightly less than

Implies a small degree of difference.

hardly exceeding

Focuses on the idea that something barely reaches a certain limit.

approaching but not exceeding

Clearly states that the limit is nearly reached but not surpassed.

FAQs

What does "practically less than" mean?

The phrase "practically less than" means that something is almost or nearly less than a specified amount or value. It implies that the difference is small enough to be considered negligible in most situations.

What are some alternatives to "practically less than"?

You can use alternatives such as "virtually less than", "almost less than", or "effectively less than" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "practically less than"?

While not considered strictly incorrect, the phrase "practically less than" is not as common or elegant as alternatives. It's generally acceptable but might be improved for clarity and style.

In what contexts is "practically less than" typically used?

The phrase is often used in scientific, technical, or business contexts where precise measurements are important, but small variations can be disregarded for practical purposes. You may also find it in "news articles".