the less possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the less possible" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "the least possible." Example: "We should aim to minimize our expenses to the least possible amount."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Everybody thinks about it, but the older you get, the less possible it seems".

The New York Times

But the more settlements are built and serious negotiations avoided, the less possible any conflict-ending, two-state peace deal becomes.

The Guardian

But the closer the date of our trip came, the less possible it seemed that I would be able to visit the prison.

The New Yorker

The plane glided above a great shelf of cloud, and the farther it got from Japan the less possible it seemed that the man had actually been Ershadi, until at last it seemed absurd, just as kimonos and Japanese toilets and etiquette and tea ceremonies, which had all possessed irrevocable genius in Kyoto, at a distance grew absurd.

The New Yorker

Nearest route (the one with the less possible distance from the user's starting point).

European Transport Research Review

The parallelization of this framework is performed with objective of enforcing the less possible changes to its different solver modules and encapsulate the changes as much as possible in its common kernel.

Computers & Fluids

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

That's possible when they're fighting the aliens, less possible when they're fighting God.

Huffington Post

It is entirely possible that this common response just puts the cart before the horse – no less possible that we are reluctant to call some soup a material thing, precisely because we are reluctant, for good but as yet unarticulated semantic reasons, to call it a thing, an object, period.

SEP

New York in the years since 9/11 has become a place where class divisions seem ever more pronounced, where an outcome like the one Jaslyn experiences in the book feels less possible rather than more.

The New York Times

In this case, low grafting degree of PMMA was beneficial to the formation of MWCNTs COOH network, while high grafting degree of PMMA led to that the contact between MWCNTs became less possible and the network structure of MWCNTs was hard to form.

Composites Part B: Engineering

This ratio could potentially be present at the same point of time following the intravenous administration of particles, while the larger ratios are statistically less possible in in vivo conditions in the body.

ACS Nano

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, replace "the less possible" with "the least possible" or "the minimum possible" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when "least" is required. "Less" is used for comparing two items, while "least" is used for the smallest degree among three or more items. For instance, use "the least possible delay" instead of "the less possible delay" when discussing multiple delay scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the less possible" attempts to function as a determiner phrase specifying a minimum degree, but it is grammatically flawed. Ludwig AI highlights its incorrectness, suggesting more appropriate alternatives such as "the least possible" or "the minimum possible".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the less possible" is frequently encountered but grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, standard English prefers "the least possible" or "the minimum possible". While "the less possible" is used across various domains like science and news, it's advisable to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone. Remember to use "least" when referring to the smallest degree among multiple options, and reserve "less" for comparisons between two items.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the least possible

Replaces "less" with "least" to correct the grammatical structure for expressing the minimum degree of possibility.

the minimum possible

Substitutes "less" with "minimum", offering a clearer and more grammatically sound alternative.

the smallest possible

Replaces "less" with "smallest", which is suitable when referring to size or quantity.

the less feasible

Replaces "possible" with "feasible", emphasizing practicality and achievability.

the less probable

Substitutes "possible" with "probable", focusing on the likelihood of something occurring.

the less likely

Replaces "possible" with "likely", indicating a reduced chance of something happening.

the least likely

Uses "least likely" to emphasize the minimum probability.

the slightest possibility

Emphasizes that there is a very small chance of something.

the faintest chance

Suggests that there is only a remote possibility of something happening.

hardly achievable

Expresses that something is difficult to achieve, almost impossible.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "the less possible"?

The grammatically correct alternative is "the least possible". This uses the superlative form "least" to indicate the minimum degree.

Can I use "the less possible" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "the less possible" in formal writing. Use alternatives like "the least possible" or "the minimum possible" to maintain a professional tone.

What does "the less possible" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "the less possible" attempts to convey the idea of something being minimized to its lowest achievable extent. It's typically better expressed as "the least possible".

What's a good substitute for "the less possible" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you can use "the minimum possible", "the smallest possible", or "the least likely" as suitable alternatives.