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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
sources less
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "sources less" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks context to determine its intended use. Example: "The report was sources less, making it difficult to verify the information presented."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(1)
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
13 human-written examples
Solely for this reason the voter turnout was, according to some sources, less than 7percentt.
News & Media
And only 7 percent of the nation's energy comes from renewable sources, less than in most other advanced nations.
News & Media
The company sources less than 10% of its stock from Bangladesh and confirmed it had never used the collapsed Rana Plaza complex.
News & Media
Cons: pricey; many TVs lack an optical-out jack, causing hassles if you use multiple sources; less stereo separation than a pair of speakers when playing music.
News & Media
Latin America spends less than 2% of GDP on transport infrastructure from public and private sources, less than half what is needed.
News & Media
Wes, a non-native English speaker, used outside sources less effectively and seemed unsure of how to write a strong research-based paper.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
47 human-written examples
Hundreds of people have had contact with Mr Beghal, says one police source; less than a third of them can be monitored.
News & Media
Here the old antennae should be twitching, for there is only one source less credible than a "witch doctor" and that's the "old Africa hand" out to impress a new arrival.
News & Media
The contemporary French author Grégoire Bouillier is too self-mocking by half to claim membership in this exalted club; his very pretensions to intellectual activity are, in his telling, a source less of honor than of horreur.
News & Media
We also find that firms source less local knowledge for their own inventions when firm inventive concentration is high.
Science
This indicates that a larger source more efficiently excites the vertical flow, while a smaller source less inefficiently due to horizontal flow excitation.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When aiming for clarity, replace "sources less" with grammatically correct alternatives such as "fewer sources" or "reduced sources".
Common error
Do not use "sources less" in formal writing. Opt for clearer, grammatically correct phrases to maintain professionalism and credibility.
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "sources less" functions as a descriptor indicating a reduction or insufficiency in the number of sources. Although present in various contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI, which recommends using grammatically sound alternatives.
Frequent in
News & Media
36%
Science
52%
Wiki
12%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "sources less" is used to indicate a reduced quantity of sources, yet it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI advises using alternatives such as "fewer sources" or "reduced sources" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. While found across various domains like News & Media and Science, it's best to avoid this phrasing in formal writing. The expert rating reflects this grammatical concern and the inconsistency in usage, emphasizing the need for precision in source description.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
fewer sources
Replaces "sources less" with a grammatically correct construction indicating a smaller number of sources.
reduced sources
Indicates that the number of sources has been diminished.
a scarcity of sources
Emphasizes the lack or insufficient amount of sources.
limited sourcing
Highlights that the sourcing is not extensive or wide-ranging.
decreased sourcing
Suggests that the act of sourcing has been reduced.
insufficient sources
Directly states that the sources are inadequate.
lack of sources
Points out the absence or unavailability of sources.
inadequate number of sources
Elaborates on the insufficiency by specifying the number.
sparse sourcing
Conveys that sourcing is thin or infrequent.
scarce sources
Indicates that sources are rare and difficult to find.
FAQs
What does "sources less" mean?
The phrase "sources less" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It is often intended to convey that something has fewer sources or a reduced amount of sourcing.
What can I say instead of "sources less"?
Alternatives to "sources less" include "fewer sources", "reduced sources", or "limited sourcing", depending on the intended meaning.
Is "sources less" grammatically correct?
No, "sources less" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct way to express the idea is to use phrases like "fewer sources" or other similar constructions.
How can I use "fewer sources" in a sentence?
Example: "The study used "fewer sources" than the previous one, which may affect the reliability of the results."
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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
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested