though to a lesser extent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'though to a lesser extent' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is true or happens, but to a smaller degree compared to something else. Example: "The recent economic downturn has affected large companies significantly, though to a lesser extent, it has also impacted small businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even Germany went in a similar direction – though to a lesser extent – from 42% in 1979 to 28% now.

The Guardian

The hiring bias also seems to work in the other direction, though to a lesser extent, with aspiring male teachers being favored in fields traditionally dominated by women.

Science Magazine

On the other hand, like Bobby Kennedy (though to a lesser extent), Holder was active in the campaign of the president who appointed him.

Los Angeles Times

This also holds, though to a lesser extent, for AThTP.

Plosone

All other mutants except A302G exhibited a similar behaviour, though, to a lesser extent.

Plosone

Ethnicity accounted for much of the association of most health conditions with SMI status, though to a lesser extent than age.

BMC Family Practice

Additionally, though to a lesser extent, our results indicate, that selective predation can influence the nematode trophic composition.

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

Though to a lesser extent, all of them have the potential to contribute or to disappoint, just like Yao.

The New York Times - Sports

Britain has also been accused of being pro-Israel, though to a lesser extent than the United States.

The New York Times

That's also true, though to a lesser extent, of Ailey's "Night Creature" (1974), which began Tuesday's program.

The New York Times - Arts

Ratings for all the cable news channels also spiked over the weekend, though to a lesser extent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "though to a lesser extent" to acknowledge a similarity while emphasizing a difference in degree. This is useful when comparing two related situations or entities.

Common error

Avoid using "though to a lesser extent" when there is no clear point of comparison. Ensure there's a previously mentioned element or situation to which the current statement is being compared; otherwise, the phrase loses its meaning and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "though to a lesser extent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the degree to which an action or state applies, usually in comparison to something else. As Ludwig AI indicates, it introduces a qualification or contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "though to a lesser extent" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express a qualified similarity, indicating that something is true or applicable, but to a reduced degree. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various domains. It is particularly common in scientific and news-related contexts, serving to add nuance and precision to statements. While alternatives like "to a smaller degree" or "not as much" exist, the original phrase provides a specific and often preferred way to express this nuanced comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to a smaller degree

Replaces "extent" with "degree", a direct synonym, making the phrase slightly more concise.

albeit to a lesser extent

Adds "albeit" to the beginning, conceding a point before qualifying it. This adds a nuance of acknowledgement before the limitation.

to a reduced extent

Replaces "lesser" with "reduced", emphasizing a decrease in the amount or degree.

to a lesser degree

Omission of "though" at the beginning. This version does not have a contrasting element.

to a minor extent

Using the word "minor" makes it explicit that the extent of the situation being described is small or insignificant.

to a limited extent

Substitutes "lesser" with "limited", indicating a restriction or boundary.

on a smaller scale

Uses "scale" instead of "extent", implying size or scope is reduced rather than the degree.

while not as significantly

Restructures the phrase to focus on the lack of significance, creating a more emphatic contrast.

in a more limited fashion

Changes both "lesser extent" to "more limited fashion", altering the phrasing to be slightly more formal.

not as much

Simplifies the phrase, using a more direct and informal comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "though to a lesser extent" in a sentence?

Use "though to a lesser extent" to indicate that something is true or applicable, but not as much as something else. For example, "The economic downturn affected large corporations significantly, though to a lesser extent, it also impacted small businesses".

What phrases are similar to "though to a lesser extent"?

Alternatives include "to a smaller degree", "to a reduced extent", or "not as much" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to include "though" when using "to a lesser extent"?

No, "though" is not always necessary. It depends on the context. "Though to a lesser extent" implies a contrast or concession, while "to a lesser extent" can simply indicate a smaller degree without a direct contrast.

What is the difference between "though to a lesser extent" and "although to a lesser extent"?

Both phrases are very similar and often interchangeable. However, "though" can sometimes be slightly more informal than "although", but the difference is minimal. Both are used to introduce a statement that qualifies or contrasts with a previous one. You could also use "albeit to a lesser extent".