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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
substantially lesser extent
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "substantially lesser extent" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "to a substantially lesser extent." Example: "The new policy will affect employees to a substantially lesser extent 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
1 human-written examples
The monoclonal antibody P4, which recognizes PrPSc derived from scrapie-affected sheep, but has a lower affinity to BSE PrPSc, clearly detected both S115/04- and S83-derived PrPSc and, to a substantially lesser extent, PrPSc from a BSE-infected sheep.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
Ca2+ and, to a lesser extent, Sr2+ substantially improve growth of the double mutants on minimal and complete media such that we routinely supplement them with Ca2+ (Fig. 1A).
Science
That is, compared to the behavior of these three proteins in reactions containing untreated intact chloroplasts (refer to Figure 3b, lanes 2 and 3), their binding and integration into trypsin-pretreated chloroplasts was substantially reduced, although to a much lesser extent for myc-Toc34 (Figure 7a).
Science
Sheep, and to a lesser extent goats, have contributed substantially to the grassland-based agricultural production in North European countries for centuries.
Science
It is found that mono-ortho-substituted and, to a lesser extent, coplanar PCBs, contribute substantially to dioxin toxic equivalents (TEq) in blood from U.S. adults.
Our analysis shows that concentration techniques, and to a lesser extent, serologic tests can substantially improve the efficiency of HAT confirmation algorithms.
Science
The levels of IGS1-F and IGS2-R were unaltered in TRAMP or exosome mutants, whereas the level of IGS1-R was substantially increased in trf4Δ and to a lesser extent in air1Δ air2Δ and rrp6Δ strains.
Science
The grain number was reduced substantially in PWB343 and Edmore and to a lesser extent in Onas, Indian, Klein Dragon, and Potam-S70.
Science
We find that the uncertainties on the gluon, and to a lesser extent the strange PDF, were substantially underestimated in previous determinations.
Science
Some flocks, however, had markedly different affected genotypes (e.g. flock 21 and, to a lesser extent, flock 29), with a substantially larger proportion of cases in animals of the ARQ/ARQ and ARQ/ARH genotypes.
Science
This is most apparent on chromosome 19, and to a lesser extent chromosome 8, which show substantially higher mean intergenic divergence rates in our analysis than the other autosomes.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, rephrase "substantially lesser extent" as "to a substantially lesser extent".
Common error
Avoid using "substantially lesser extent" directly. Ensure the phrase includes the preposition "to" for better grammatical flow: "to a substantially lesser extent."
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which an action or quality is reduced. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is not considered standard English, suggesting a need for revision to "to a substantially lesser extent."
Frequent in
Science
69%
News & Media
23%
Formal & Business
8%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "substantially lesser extent" aims to convey a significant reduction in degree or impact, primarily within scientific and news contexts. However, according to Ludwig AI, the expression is not grammatically correct and should be rephrased as "to a substantially lesser extent". This adjustment ensures clarity and adheres to standard English usage. Alternatives like "significantly smaller degree" or "much smaller extent" can also be considered for improved precision and readability.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
to a significantly reduced degree
Adds "to a" and rephrases as "significantly reduced degree" for grammatical correctness and clarity.
to a much smaller extent
Replaces "substantially lesser" with "much smaller" for simpler phrasing.
significantly smaller degree
Replaces "substantially lesser" with "significantly smaller" to emphasize the reduced quantity or degree.
to a considerably lower degree
Replaces "substantially lesser" with "considerably lower" to emphasize reduction.
markedly reduced level
Uses "markedly reduced" instead of "substantially lesser" to highlight a noticeable decrease.
to a markedly diminished level
Uses "markedly diminished" instead of "substantially lesser" to highlight a noticeable decrease in value or amount.
considerably diminished scale
Substitutes "extent" with "scale" and "substantially lesser" with "considerably diminished" to indicate a reduction in size or scope.
to a noticeably reduced amount
Replaces "extent" with "amount" and uses "noticeably reduced" to convey a clear decrease.
appreciably smaller magnitude
Replaces "extent" with "magnitude" and uses "appreciably smaller" to denote a noticeable decrease in size or importance.
noticeably decreased proportion
Uses "noticeably decreased" instead of "substantially lesser" and "proportion" in place of "extent" to emphasize a reduction in ratio or percentage.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say "substantially lesser extent"?
The grammatically correct phrasing is "to a substantially lesser extent". You can also use alternative phrases like "significantly smaller degree" or "much smaller extent".
Can I use "substantially lesser extent" in formal writing?
It's best to avoid "substantially lesser extent" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "significantly smaller degree" or "considerably lower degree" to maintain professionalism.
What does "to a substantially lesser extent" mean?
It means that something is reduced or diminished to a significant degree compared to something else. Alternatives include "markedly reduced level" or "appreciably smaller magnitude".
Is there a difference between "lesser extent" and "substantially lesser extent"?
"Substantially lesser extent" implies a more significant reduction than just "lesser extent". Using alternative phrases like "significantly smaller degree" or "considerably lower degree" can provide more precise meaning.
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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
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested