since less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "since less than" is not a complete sentence and is not grammatically correct.
It could potentially be used in a sentence with proper punctuation, but it usually needs to be followed by a clause or phrase that completes the sentence. For example: - "Since less than half of the students passed the test, the teacher decided to review the material again." - "Since less than a week had passed since her last visit, she was surprised to see how much the neighborhood had changed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

WOMEN SCORNED: Bret Easton Ellis's "Imperial Bedrooms," a sequel to "Less Than Zero," squeaks onto the hardcover fiction list at No. 15 — Easton's first appearance there since "Less Than Zero," his first novel, notched three weeks back in 1985.

The New York Times - Books

The move will have little practical effect since less than one percent of EU funds end up in the territories.

The Guardian - Opinion

The number of trucks turned away is striking, since less than 0.5percentt of this year's corn acreage nationwide was planted with StarLink seed.

The New York Times

The plan has nothing to do with stimulus, since less than a dime on the dollar will arrive in the next year.

The New York Times

Pet insurance rarely comes to the rescue, since less than 3 percent of Americans carry it, according to the American Animal Hospital Association.

The New York Times

A car, though, does come in handy, since less than an hour's drive away over the mountains is a tropical coast studded with crescent beaches.

The New York Times

The stakes were much lower; since less than 10% of school levers went to any university, the employment advantage was gained by getting in, and getting out with something.

The Guardian

Since less than one-fifth of the land is under cultivation, agriculture is of necessity extremely intensive; but the limited extent of sown land available is partly offset by repeated use of it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

3No majority vote (MV) since less than three labellers agree.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

This is not really the case, since less-than-regular cycles make it difficult for women to prevent pregnancy without the use of contraceptives.

Huffington Post

At first glance, a non-Buddhist would classify it as polytheism, since (less-than-almighty and limited in time) divine beings, Dharma Guardians, are integrated parts of Mahayana devotion.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating causality based on quantity, ensure your sentence structure is grammatically correct. Replace "since less than" with alternatives like "because fewer than" or "as it's less than".

Common error

Avoid using "since less than" as a standalone phrase. Always complete the sentence with a clause that explains the consequence or result of the quantity being less than a certain amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "since less than" functions as an incomplete causal connector, aiming to introduce a reason or cause based on a quantity or degree. However, it requires completion with a proper clause to form a grammatically sound sentence. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically incorrect on its own.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "since less than" attempts to establish a causal relationship based on quantity. However, as Ludwig AI clearly indicates, the phrase is grammatically incorrect on its own and requires completion to form a coherent sentence. The authoritative sources in Ludwig's examples show that while the phrase is used, it often appears in contexts (Science, News & Media, Formal & Business) where precision is expected, highlighting the need for grammatical correction. Therefore, it's best to use grammatically correct alternatives like "because fewer than" or "as it's less than" to effectively convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

because fewer than

Replaces "since" with "because" and "less" with "fewer", suitable when referring to countable items.

as fewer than

Substitutes "since" with "as" providing a reason or cause related to a quantity.

given that fewer than

Replaces "since" with "given that" and "less" with "fewer", emphasizing a known fact.

seeing as fewer than

Uses "seeing as" instead of "since" for a more conversational tone when stating a reason based on quantity.

considering that fewer than

Emphasizes a deliberate consideration of a quantity as the reason.

due to fewer than

Highlights direct causation related to a quantity being below a certain threshold.

because it's less than

Uses a more explicit phrasing with "because it's" to state the reason for a quantity being under a limit.

as it's less than

Similar to "because it's less than", but starts with "as" to indicate a consequence.

inasmuch as it's less than

Offers a more formal alternative, meaning "to the extent that" something is below a certain quantity.

owing to it being less than

Replaces "since" with a more formal "owing to", indicating the reason is a quantity below a specific level.

FAQs

How can I correctly use a phrase indicating 'because a quantity is smaller'?

Instead of the grammatically incorrect "since less than", use phrases like "because fewer than", "as fewer than", or "given that fewer than" to express the relationship correctly.

What are some alternatives to "since less than" for expressing causality based on a quantity?

Consider using alternatives such as "due to fewer than", "owing to it being less than", or "inasmuch as it's less than", depending on the level of formality required.

Is "since less than" grammatically correct?

No, "since less than" is not grammatically correct as a standalone phrase. It typically needs to be part of a larger, well-structured sentence to properly convey its intended meaning. Consider using a grammatically correct alternative.

How does the choice between "fewer" and "less" affect alternatives to "since less than"?

Use "fewer" when referring to countable items (e.g., "because fewer than") and "less" when referring to uncountable quantities (e.g., "as it's less than"). Ensure your choice aligns with the noun you are modifying.