required less of a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "required less of a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that demands a smaller amount or degree of something compared to another. Example: "This new software update required less of a learning curve than the previous version, making it easier for users to adapt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I usually travel fairly haphazardly, but perhaps a change of career required less of a "hope for the best" attitude.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr. Mahoney said the telephone figure was probably less but that the industry required less of an upgrade to prepare it for high-speed traffic.

The New York Times

They used the three newly discovered planets as studies into the creation of a non-eccentric, circular model for a planet's orbit (the most likely solution) or an eccentric, elliptical solution for a planet's orbit (the solution that, according to the discovery team, required less of an assumption).

Wikipedia

Low interest rates mean that paying off a first home loan today requires less of a household's disposable income than it has on average over the last decade.

The Guardian - Opinion

These days digital lighting equipment is easier to buy off the shelf but does not necessarily require less of a time commitment.

The New York Times - Tech

Because it requires less of a suspension of disbelief to accept their "Japanese-ness" than to accept the more usual "Mikado" staging with Anglophone performers in kimonos conjuring up an outdated, not to say racist, stereotype of Japan.

The New York Times - Arts

But before they could obtain approval, the design had to be modified from its original plan for an attached garage with an apartment above it to a freestanding one, requiring less of a setback.

The New York Times

A little more defensive cover could yet be signed but, although an arduous series of early fixtures could sow fresh doubts around the club, Leicester look better prepared for the start of the campaign than most of their rivals, requiring less of a makeover than United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Southampton, all of whom they face, along with Arsenal, in the opening few weeks.

The Guardian - Sport

Because H2O comes as a package with many of the configurations already tuned, set up is easy, requiring less of a learning curve than most other free options.

Journal of Big Data

Hybrids also require less of a leap of faith than other fuel alternatives, for the simple reason that they don't depend on an alternative fuel meaning that hybrid buyers won't be dependent on the ramp up of any new fuel infrastructure.

Forbes

Says Wolinetz: "We spend a lot of our time testing and focusing interest in location-based services and Twitter, as our clients are eager to 'master' these emerging platforms, and [they] generally require less of a paid media investment than Facebook does".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "required less of a", ensure it's followed by a noun or noun phrase specifying what is being reduced. For example: 'The new method "required less of a" time commitment'.

Common error

Avoid using "required less of a" in passive voice constructions where the subject performing the action is unclear or missing. Always specify what demanded less effort or resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "required less of a" functions as a comparative verb phrase, indicating a reduced demand or necessity. It is typically followed by a noun phrase specifying what is needed in smaller quantity. Ludwig examples show it modifying aspects like 'time commitment' or 'paid media investment'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "required less of a" is used to indicate a reduction in demand or necessity. According to Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct and frequently appears in contexts like news, science, and formal communications. While there's only one example in the exact form, Ludwig provided various similar examples, all following the same pattern of indicating a reduction in demand for a specific resource or attribute. As a writer, ensuring clarity and specifying what demands less is key to effectively using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demanded fewer

Changes the verb and simplifies the prepositional phrase.

needed less

Replaces "required" with a more common synonym and omits "of a".

entailed less

Uses a more formal synonym for "required".

called for less

Employs a phrasal verb to convey a similar meaning.

necessitated less

Replaces "required" with a stronger, more formal equivalent.

involved less

Focuses on the involvement aspect rather than requirement.

relied less on

Shifts the focus to reliance rather than requirement.

depended less on

Similar to "relied less on", emphasizing dependence.

less was needed

Restructures the sentence to passive voice and simplifies the phrase.

minimized the need for

Rephrases to highlight the reduction of need.

FAQs

How can I use "required less of a" in a sentence?

Use "required less of a" to indicate that something demanded a smaller amount or degree of something else. For example, 'The updated software "required less of a" learning curve'.

What's a good substitute for "required less of a"?

Alternatives include "needed less", "demanded fewer", or "entailed less" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was required less of a"?

While grammatically understandable, using the phrase actively, like "it "required less of a" commitment", is generally clearer and more direct.

What does "required less of a" imply?

It implies that something demanded or necessitated a smaller quantity or intensity of a particular resource, effort, or characteristic compared to a previous state or alternative option.