substantial less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial less than" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "substantially less than"? You can use the corrected phrase when comparing quantities or amounts to indicate that one is significantly lower than the other. Example: "The budget for this project is substantially less than what we had anticipated."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although the absolute amount of these excreted substances in the carbon balance is not substantial (less than 5%), linking their accumulation dynamics to μ (or metabolic routes) is relevant for acknowledging the potential imbalance between pyrimidine metabolism, carbon re-consumption and ATP spilling.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But Keller, known for substantial but less than sparkling histories of American administrative practices, has put together one of the most engaging and accessible portraits of America's political evolution of recent years.

The New York Times - Books

On top of the health reform legislation earlier this year, the legislation passed in the so-called 'lame-duck' Congress, the session between the 2 November election and the new Congress in January, traditionally a dead zone, provides Obama with a substantial legacy less than two years into his presidency.

The Guardian

Much of the trouble stems from the fact that this is actually two markedly different exhibitions in one: a substantial if less than thorough retrospective of Marsh that is blended with a mélange of prints, paintings and photographs of New York in the early 20th century.

The New York Times

The median income in Dallas ― $43,359 ― is a substantial $12,292 less than the ideal income needed to live comfortably there.

Huffington Post

For crown radius, the predicted variation, though substantial, was less than observed.

Plosone

The distribution for β CYP1A1 → RARB had a substantial mass less than zero (26% < 0, Table 3), suggesting a lack of support for the linkage between changes in message for these two genes.

Environmental Health Perspectives

However, further work revealed that G-rich oligos with substantial but less than 100% homology to telomeres were also effective in activation of the DNA damage signaling pathway leading to apoptosis of malignant cells and that some were even more effective than the same length 100% homologs [ 7].

Breast Cancer Research

Based on a perusal of the two complaints (the S.E.C. one is technically an administrative order), my initial take is that the civil case is strong, and the criminal case is also substantial but somewhat less than a slam dunk.

The New Yorker

Mr. Silverstein received $1.13 billion, a substantial sum, though less than he had sought.

The New York Times

The new range will start at the same price point as the company's classic Bayswater clutch (£495) but will include "quite substantial" bags at less than £700.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing quantities, use "substantially less than" instead of "substantial less than" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. This phrasing accurately conveys that one amount is significantly smaller than another.

Common error

Avoid using the adjective "substantial" directly before "less than." Instead, use the adverb "substantially" to modify "less than," creating the correct phrase: "substantially less than". This ensures grammatical accuracy and professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial less than" is grammatically incorrect. A correct phrasing would use the adverb 'substantially' to modify the comparative expression 'less than'. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct phrasing is 'substantially less than'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantial less than" is grammatically incorrect. The accurate phrasing is "substantially less than", using the adverb 'substantially' to properly modify the comparative 'less than'. While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian are present, the grammatical error impacts the overall usefulness of the phrase. Ludwig AI advises using "substantially less than" for accurate comparison of quantities. Consider alternatives like "significantly smaller than" or "considerably lower than" for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantially below

Replaces "less than" with "below" while retaining "substantially", focusing on a lower position or amount.

significantly smaller than

Replaces "substantial" with "significantly" to emphasize the degree of difference, maintaining a formal tone.

considerably lower than

Substitutes "substantial" with "considerably" to highlight the magnitude of the difference, suitable for various contexts.

markedly inferior to

Replaces "substantial less than" with a phrase that conveys a clear difference in quality or value.

noticeably smaller than

Uses "noticeably" to indicate an easily observed difference in size or amount.

appreciably less than

Emphasizes that the difference is significant enough to be worth considering.

well below

Offers a simpler way to express that something is far lower than a certain level or expectation.

distinctly beneath

Implies a clear hierarchical difference, where one thing is clearly lower in rank or value.

far from

Indicates a large difference in terms of characteristics or expectations.

nowhere near

Emphasizes that the two quantities or qualities being compared are not even close to each other.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "substantial less than"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "substantially less than." The adverb "substantially less than" correctly modifies the comparison.

How can I use "substantially less than" in a sentence?

For example: "The cost of the new system is "substantially less than" the old one."

Is "substantial less than" ever correct in English?

No, "substantial less than" is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing is "substantially less than", where "substantially" acts as an adverb modifying "less than."

What are some alternatives to saying "substantially less than"?

You could use phrases like "significantly smaller than", "considerably lower than", or "markedly inferior to" as alternatives to "substantially less than".