quantity less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quantity less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in mathematical or scientific contexts to describe a value that is smaller than a specified amount. Example: "The experiment requires a quantity less than 50 milliliters of the solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Goods vehicles with transportable quantity less than 18 tons, goods vehicles with transportable quantity more than 18 tons, divided in: articulated lorry, lorry with trailer.

European Transport Research Review

Euler rejected the concept of infinitesimal in its sense as a quantity less than any assignable magnitude and yet unequal to 0, arguing: that differentials must be zeros, and dy/dx the quotient 0/0.

SEP

Goods vehicles with transportable quantity less than 18 tons represent about the 14% of trucks; they move about 10 tons per vehicle and hence, considering the average ratio with vehicle capacity, they have the highest load factors.

European Transport Research Review

Table 6 reports the estimated vehicle type shares and the relative average transported quantities Open image in new window for the following vehicle types v: Goods vehicles with transportable quantity less than 18 tons, goods vehicles with transportable quantity more than 18 tons, divided in: articulated lorry, lorry with trailer.

European Transport Research Review

Our single-molecule fluorescence approach two-color coincidence detection (TCCD) can overcome such limitations as it requires a minimal quantity (less than femtomoles) of labeled components.

Biochemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

After softening, the lead goes to desilvering kettles, where small quantities (less than 1 percent by weight) of zinc are added.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Whig legislature had passed a bill promoted by temperance activists that banned the sale of liquor in quantities less than 15 USgal; this effectively outlawed service over a bar.

Wikipedia

To avoid biological saturation, the amount of target RNA must be present in quantities less than the amount that the cDNA on the microarray slide can bind.

Plosone

Numbers in bold were considered as significant variations represented by relative mRNA quantities less than 0.5 or up to 2. n.d.: not determined.

BMC Genomics

The corresponding increase in saturated fat per serving was much smaller (0.5 g). 25 As with labelling, quantities less than 0.5 g per serving could still lead to non-trivial accumulations, especially among heavy consumers.

British Medical Journal

Analysing samples from 12 sites in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean taken between 2001 and 2012, they found for the first time that substantial quantities of microplastics – which measure less than 1mm in length – had accumulated in deep sea sediment.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quantity less than" in scientific writing, specify the units of measurement to ensure clarity and precision. For example, "the quantity of reagent used should be less than 5 ml".

Common error

A common error is failing to specify the units of measurement when using "quantity less than". Always include units (e.g. grams, liters, moles) to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quantity less than" functions as a comparative quantifier, specifying that a particular amount is below a defined threshold. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and usability. The examples show that it is often used in scientific and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quantity less than" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that an amount is below a specific threshold. Though Ludwig identifies its usage as relatively rare, it finds utility across diverse sources like science journals, news articles, and encyclopedias. The phrase functions as a comparative quantifier, predominantly to establish limits or requirements in technical and non-technical contexts. For precision, it's crucial to include units of measurement to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amount below

Replaces "quantity" with "amount" to offer a simpler synonym while retaining the comparison.

value under

Substitutes "quantity" with "value", focusing on the numerical representation instead of the amount.

not exceeding

Uses a more formal tone to indicate the upper limit that the quantity does not surpass.

smaller than

Employs a direct and common comparison term, avoiding the more specific term "quantity".

below a certain amount

Rephrases to emphasize the threshold rather than the specific quantification.

less than a specific quantity

Reorders the phrase to highlight that there is a defined threshold the quantity does not reach.

a quantity not exceeding

Presents a formal rephrasing to emphasize the limit that is not surpassed.

in quantities smaller than

Adds emphasis on multiple instances with each instance being under a certain threshold

with a quantity inferior to

Uses the word "inferior" that can imply a deficiency depending the context.

a quantity less than or equal to

It's more inclusive because it adds the edge case of equality.

FAQs

How do I use "quantity less than" in a sentence?

Use "quantity less than" to indicate that an amount or measurement is below a certain threshold. For example, "The experiment requires a "quantity less than" 10 grams of the substance."

What are some alternatives to "quantity less than"?

You can use alternatives like "amount below", "value under", or "not exceeding" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more appropriate to use "amount less than" or "quantity less than"?

Both "amount less than" and ""quantity less than"" are grammatically correct. "Quantity" is generally used when referring to a measurable or countable amount, whereas "amount" is used for non-countable items. Choose based on the context.

How does the meaning of "quantity less than" differ from "quantity greater than"?

"Quantity less than" indicates that the amount is below a specific value, while "quantity greater than" indicates the amount exceeds that value. They are opposite comparisons.