so less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so less than" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. Instead, you might want to use it in contexts where you are comparing quantities or qualities, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "The results were so less than expected" should be rephrased to "The results were much less than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It was so less than the sum of its parts".

The Guardian

That amount is $3,000 or so less than the typical cost.

The New York Times

The party fell apart, and this time its vote collapsed.Even so, less than polls predicted.

The Economist

Even so, less than three million dollars in the Hamptons is considered a moderate price.

The New Yorker

"Great actors," Croall writes, "never really grow up, and Gielgud did so less than most".

The New York Times - Books

I have it huge, so less than one page takes up the whole screen in a stupid, stupid big font.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

What's more, the steps to detect and eliminate that malware — unimaginatively called "DNSChanger" — are relatively simple, so less-than-tech-savvy folk out there can take care of business with too much outside assistance.

TechCrunch

So, less garbage than expected -- good news, right?

Huffington Post

SD and LDW birds sing less stereotyped song and do so less frequently than LD + T birds [ 37].

BMC Genomics

So has less-than-clear guidance from some central banks—in particular, the Bank of England.

The Economist

I still got paid so much less than any men".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical accuracy, replace "so less than" with more precise alternatives like "significantly less than" or "considerably less than" to ensure your intended meaning is clearly conveyed.

Common error

Avoid using "so less than" as a universal substitute for all comparative statements. Instead, choose alternatives that accurately reflect the degree of difference you wish to express. For instance, "slightly less than" is better suited for minor differences, while "far less than" is appropriate for major discrepancies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so less than" functions as a comparative, attempting to express a smaller quantity or degree. However, its grammatical structure is flawed, leading to potential misinterpretations, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "so less than" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. To ensure clarity and precision, it's advisable to replace "so less than" with grammatically sound alternatives such as ""much less than"", "significantly less than", or "considerably less than". This substitution improves the overall quality and authority of your writing, particularly in formal or professional contexts. Despite its relatively high occurrence, prioritizing grammatical correctness will enhance your message's credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably less than

Emphasizes a significant difference in quantity or degree.

significantly less than

Highlights a notable reduction or deficiency.

substantially less than

Indicates a considerable or significant difference.

far less than

Suggests a substantial disparity or inferiority.

appreciably less than

Indicates a perceptible or measurable reduction.

noticeably less than

Implies an easily observable difference.

markedly less than

Denotes a distinct or prominent reduction.

moderately less than

Suggests a smaller, but still important, difference.

slightly less than

Highlights a marginal or small reduction.

somewhat less than

Implies a degree of reduction that isn't precisely defined.

FAQs

What phrases can replace "so less than"?

You can use phrases like "considerably less than", "significantly less than", or "far less than" depending on the context.

Is "so less than" grammatically correct?

No, "so less than" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "much less than" or "considerably less than".

How to use a correct alternative for "so less than" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "The cost was so less than expected", you can say "The cost was "much less than" expected" or "The cost was significantly less than expected".

What is the difference between "so less than" and "less than"?

"Less than" is a grammatically correct comparative phrase. "So less than" is generally considered incorrect and should be replaced with a more appropriate alternative such as "much less than" or "considerably less than" to clearly indicate the degree of difference.