second lowest number of

USAGE SUMMARY

"second lowest number of" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is less common than the next least common item in a group. Example sentence: The elephant had the second lowest number of teeth compared to the other animals in the zoo.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It was the second lowest number of homicides in the city since 1963, the police said.

The New York Times

The next year, we saw the second lowest number of murders of cops to date.

The Washington Post

The Giants' pitchers gave up the fewest home runs and issued the second lowest number of walks.

The New York Times - Sports

However, while it was indeed a record level for a single month, 2013 saw the second lowest number of annual switches since records began.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Scotland, the number of women elected was 45, resulting in the second lowest number of women MSPs in four Holyrood elections at 34.88%.

The Guardian

We have the second lowest number of hospital beds per capita in the EU, and that is set to fall further.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

It is still the third lowest number of abscondments since records were kept - and is down by more than 1,000 on the figure a decade ago.

BBC

The away side, who are 26 points behind joint leaders Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, have claimed the third lowest number of bowling bonus points so far this year.

BBC

(a) Fourth-order explicit schemes (lowest number of points per wavelength is 4); (b) sixth-order compact schemes (lowest number of points per wavelength is 3).

Advances in Difference Equations

If both vaccination and drug therapy are not available in the second wave, profile (ii) in the first wave results in the lowest number of total infections.

Plosone

The absolute number of infiltrating CD8+ cells was microscopically assessed per mm and classified into two groups: two-thirds of patients with the lowest number of CD8 infiltration per mm vs one-third of patients with the highest number of CD8 infiltration per mm(de Kruijf et al, 2013).

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data sets, use "second lowest number of" to clearly indicate the ranking of a particular data point within the set. Ensure you specify the context of what is being counted for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "second lowest number of" when comparing scales with significantly different ranges. For example, if one scale ranges from 1-10 and another from 1-1000, the comparison may be misleading. Instead, use relative percentages or indices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second lowest number of" functions as a descriptor of quantity, specifically identifying a data point that is the second smallest within a set. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Wiki

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second lowest number of" is a useful descriptor for quantifying a data point that is just above the minimum within a set. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, particularly in news, science, and general reference. To maximize clarity, specify the context being measured and ensure your comparisons are relevant. This phrase enables precise communication, ensuring that the ranking and relative standing within the data set is transparent to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second smallest quantity of

Replaces "number" with "quantity", emphasizing the amount rather than the count.

second least amount of

Uses "amount" instead of "number", suitable for uncountable items.

second from bottom in quantity

Expresses the concept using a positional description.

next to the lowest count of

Rephrases using "count" and a more descriptive term.

penultimate lowest figure for

Uses "penultimate" and "figure" for a more formal tone.

second-lowest quantity on record

Adds context regarding record keeping.

one of the smallest numbers of

Changes phrasing to emphasize one among several smallest numbers.

close to the minimum number of

Implies proximity to the absolute minimum.

nearly the least amount of

Highlights the closeness to the absolute least amount.

substantially less than most

Focuses on the comparison to a general higher quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "second lowest number of" in a sentence?

You can use "second lowest number of" to describe data points that rank just above the absolute minimum, for example: "This year saw the "second lowest number of" homicides since 1963".

What's a good alternative to "second lowest number of"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "second smallest number of" or "next to the lowest count".

Is it better to say "second lowest number of" or "second fewest number of"?

Both phrases are acceptable. "Second lowest number of" is generally used, but "second fewest number of" is also grammatically correct and emphasizes the lack of quantity.

What does "second lowest number of" imply about the rest of the data?

It implies that there is one value lower, and all other values are higher, indicating a relative ranking within the data set.