take less than

USAGE SUMMARY

"take less than" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when something is able to be completed in a short amount of time. For example, "It will take less than an hour to drive to the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will take less than a minute.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It'll take less than an hour".

The New Yorker

Browning should take less than 5 minutes.

The New York Times - Food

All this had better take less than one second!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Actual negotiations should take less than 90 minutes.

Harvard University

The process is expected to take less than two weeks.

The New York Times

Did the actresses take less than their rate?

The New Yorker

"They'll take less than perfect space for the right view.

The New York Times

The fix should take less than a week.

The New York Times

Sometimes it would take less than 10 seconds.

The Guardian - Sport

The drive can take less than an hour.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When estimating time, resources, or effort, use "take less than" to provide a clear and concise comparison. For instance, "Completing the survey should "take less than" five minutes."

Common error

Avoid using "take less than" without a specific reference point. Instead of saying "This will "take less than" you think", provide a concrete estimate, such as "This will "take less than" an hour".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take less than" functions primarily as a comparative expression, indicating that the subject requires a smaller amount of something (time, effort, resources) than a specified or implied benchmark. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which showcase its use in diverse scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take less than" is a grammatically correct and very common comparative expression used to indicate that something requires a smaller amount of time, effort, or resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general communication. The phrase functions to reassure, set expectations, or emphasize efficiency. While versatile, it's best practice to provide specific reference points when using the phrase to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include phrases like "require fewer than" and "involve shorter than", each adding a slightly different nuance. The expression is considered neutral in formality and is found across diverse authoritative sources, such as The New York Times and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require fewer than

Focuses on reducing the number of resources or items needed.

demand less than

Emphasizes a reduction in the amount of effort or resources expected.

involve shorter than

Highlights a decrease in the length or duration of a process or activity.

be quicker than

Indicates a faster completion time compared to a standard expectation.

last for a shorter period than

Specifically refers to the duration of an event or activity.

consume fewer resources than

Highlights efficiency in resource utilization.

necessitate less than

Implies a reduced level of necessity or requirement.

be under

Conveys that the value, size, or amount is smaller.

stay below

Highlights staying under a certain limit or value.

amount to less than

Specifically quantifies something as being a smaller amount.

FAQs

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

Use "take less than" to indicate that an activity, process, or task requires a reduced amount of something, like time or resources. For instance, "The entire procedure should "take less than" 30 minutes".

What are some alternatives to "take less than"?

Alternatives include phrases like "require fewer than", "demand less than", or "involve shorter than", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "takes less than" instead of "take less than"?

Yes, both are correct, but they depend on the subject of the sentence. Use "take less than" with plural subjects (e.g., "These tasks "take less than" an hour"). Use "takes less than" with singular subjects (e.g., "This task "takes less than" an hour").

What's the difference between "take less than" and "amount to less than"?

"Take less than" is generally used to refer to time or effort, while "amount to less than" is usually used to quantify a monetary value or measurable quantities. For example, "The project will "take less than" a week", but "The damages "amount to less than" $1000".