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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
shortening than
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "shortening than" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words that does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "This method is shortening than the previous one."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
12 human-written examples
The TX, FGF, and FGF-TX groups showed better fractional shortening than the control group (TX, FGF, FGF-TX, and control: 28% ± 4.4%, 24% ± 8.6%, 27% ± 7.3%, and 17% ± 4.6%, respectively; P <.01).
In this study, both MEMRI studies in cells and xenografts have shown significant difference in T1 shortening between CRCs with different metastatic potential: highly aggressive cells/tumours showed two to three times greater T1 shortening than less aggressive ones, with high statistical significance.
The present data also replicate a previous finding of no association between CRP and LTL in older adults, and suggest that systemic inflammatory cytokines may have more relevance to leukocyte telomere shortening than the more commonly used inflammatory marker CRP.
Science
Reprogramming of NSC involved more drastic 3'UTR shortening than other cell types, which is similar in extent, but opposite in direction, to reprogramming of SC (Figures 2 and S6).
Science
This finding is in accordance with the results of our two studies which revealed a higher chance for patient dissatisfaction caused by leg shortening than by lengthening.
There were no differences regarding palmar and radial displacement angles, but both PTH groups showed less radial shortening than the placebo group (p = 0.01).
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
48 human-written examples
Its image is pure white fat: scarier than shortening, fattier than butter.
News & Media
As I said during the live coverage this week, I suspect the appearance itself is more likely to reinforce pre-existing positive or negative perceptions of Shorten than to be a significant changer of perceptions.
News & Media
If she let some power to Chance in derogating her decrees, it was more to shorten than to lengthen those first limits set by her, as familiar examples show.
Moreover, these results show that coherence bandwidth in Brazil is wider than in European countries, root mean squared delay spread in Brazil is shorten than in US and European countries and coherence time in Brazil is shorter than what is previously reported in the literature.
This is not a uniform shape change, as the mandibular elongation is not evenly distributed throughout the mandible (e.g. the region below the premolars is more elongated and shortened than the region below the molars and incisors).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When comparing lengths or durations, always use the correct comparative adjective form, such as "shorter" instead of "shortening". For example, say "This cable is shorter than the other one."
Common error
Avoid using the gerund form of a verb (e.g., "shortening") in place of a comparative adjective (e.g., "shorter") when making comparisons. "Shortening" is a verb or noun, whereas "shorter" is the correct adjective to use when comparing two things.
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "shortening than" functions incorrectly as a comparative. It attempts to compare two entities based on length, but uses the present participle "shortening" instead of the correct comparative adjective "shorter". Ludwig AI indicates this is not standard English.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
30%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "shortening than" is grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to compare the length or duration of two things, but the correct form is "shorter than". As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase does not follow standard English grammar rules. Although there are examples of its usage, primarily in scientific and news-related contexts, these instances represent errors and should be avoided. When making comparisons, always use the appropriate comparative adjective (e.g., "shorter", "less") to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. It's advisable to use the phrase "shorter than" or other suitable alternatives instead.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
shorter than
Uses the correct comparative form of the adjective "short".
less than
Focuses on a lower quantity or degree, suitable when referring to a numerical value or abstract concept.
smaller than
Emphasizes reduced physical dimensions.
of a shorter duration than
Specifies that the comparison is about duration.
not as long as
Presents a negative comparison of length.
decreased more than
Emphasizes the action of decreasing and the degree of change.
reduced compared to
Highlights the state of being reduced and makes a direct comparison.
a shorter version of
Indicates that something is a briefer iteration of something else.
more concise than
Highlights brevity and efficiency of expression.
more brief than
Focuses on something that is fast and short.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say something is less long?
The correct way to say something is less long is to use "shorter than". For example, "This rope is shorter than that one" is correct.
When should I use "shorter" instead of "shortening"?
Use "shorter" when you are comparing the lengths of two things. "Shortening" refers to the act of making something shorter. For example, "This process is shorter than the previous one" is correct, whereas "shortening the rope" describes an action.
Is there a difference between "less long than" and "shorter than"?
Yes, "shorter than" is the grammatically correct and more common way to express that something has a smaller length compared to something else. "Less long than" is not typically used.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested