proportionately less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proportionately less" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities or amounts that are smaller in relation to another quantity or amount. Example: "The new policy resulted in proportionately less funding for the arts compared to previous years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Other indexes rose proportionately less.

The New York Times

Proportionately less outlay on food meant more for clothes, homes, holidays and fun.

The Guardian - Opinion

Social unrest is rising in France: worker's income are proportionately less than before the war.

The New Yorker

The bones are heavy, and it's a fatty bird with proportionately less meat for its size.

The New York Times - Food

(If not using entire batch of gnocchi, use proportionately less butter sauce).

The New York Times - Food

First, they export (proportionately) less to the EU than the UK does.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even when mothers cut back at work, they are not paid proportionately less.

The New York Times

Richer donors also give proportionately less to provide for basic needs, though no income group is especially inclined toward almsgiving.

The Washington Post

Workers might end up with less generous health plans, but they'd be paying proportionately less in overall taxes.

The New York Times

The success of the Polish economy in its trade with Germany makes America proportionately less important.Another factor is personality.

The Economist

Yet, at $3 per head a year, Myanmar receives proportionately less foreign aid than does almost any other country.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proportionately less", ensure the comparison is clear. Specify what the reduction is in proportion to, to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying 'There was proportionately less interest', specify 'There was proportionately less interest in science compared to mathematics'.

Common error

A common error is failing to specify what the reduction is proportional to. Always clarify the basis of comparison to ensure the statement is meaningful. Avoid vague statements like 'There is proportionately less', and instead say 'There is proportionately less funding available this year compared to last year'.

Linguistic Context

“Proportionately less” functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate that something is reduced in a comparative relationship. It specifies that the reduction is not absolute but relative to another quantity or standard. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of this expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, “proportionately less” is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a relative reduction. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English when comparing quantities or amounts that are smaller in relation to another quantity or amount. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in "News & Media" and "Science", highlighting its utility in conveying precise comparative information. When writing, ensure that the basis for comparison is clearly stated to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "relatively smaller" or "less in proportion" may be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Less in proportion

Directly states that the quantity is not in the expected or previous proportion.

Proportionally decreased

Is very similar but provides a different option for how to express that something has lessened.

Comparatively smaller

Focuses on comparing sizes or amounts, highlighting that one is smaller in relation to another.

Relatively smaller

Emphasizes that the reduction is considered in relation to something else, providing context.

Reduced proportionally

Highlights that a decrease has occurred that follows a proportional change with the original amount.

Disproportionately smaller

Highlights an imbalance in the proportion, suggesting a significant difference.

Proportionally diminished

Replaces "less" with a stronger verb to indicate a more significant decrease.

Correspondingly smaller

Indicates that the size or amount is reduced in a way that matches a related change.

Comparatively decreased in amount

It directly states that an amount has lessened in comparison to another amount.

Inversely proportional reduction

States clearly that when another quantity increases, there is a reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "proportionately less" in a sentence?

Use "proportionately less" to indicate a reduced amount in relation to something else. For example: "The budget allocated "proportionately less" funding to arts this year."

What's a good alternative to "proportionately less"?

Alternatives include "relatively smaller", "comparatively smaller", or "less in proportion". Choose the best fit based on your specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "proportionately lesser" instead of "proportionately less"?

While "lesser" means smaller or of less significance, "less" is generally preferred when quantifying something. Therefore, "proportionately less" is typically the better choice.

What does "proportionately less" mean in a statistical context?

In statistics, "proportionately less" indicates a decrease in a specific ratio or percentage compared to a reference value or another group. For instance, one might say "The error rate was "proportionately less" in the control group."