thought less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought less than" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a comparison of thought or consideration, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I thought less than I should have about the consequences of my actions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Ironically, while compiling this list, we encounter the first experience at Diva that could genuinely be thought less than ideal.

The Guardian - Travel

This makes it both worth visiting in itself and, I've sometimes thought, less than ideal as a display case for modern design.

The Guardian - Books

The sell to buy ratio was 6 1 sellers But the broker thought less than 5% of the 690,000 individuals allocated stock sold today.

The Guardian - Business

Unicef officials said children's welfare was secondary to profits and it is thought less than one-third of income goes on child care.

The Guardian - Opinion

The emperor's reception towards the British had been tepid at best, having showed little interest in the affairs of Europe, so far away, and refusing to accept a gift from King George which he had thought less than sufficient.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And I think less than 10 on an equity fund is a reasonable possibility.

The New York Times

Do you think less than £1 a head will achieve that target?

The Guardian

I've come strongly to believe that if you can convince someone they are less than others, then they are going to live less than, think less than".

The Guardian

We see that the intellectuals were useless to the British Communist Party CPGBB chief Harry Pollitt, one dispatch had it, "thinks less than nothing of their value to the party").

The Guardian - Books

"We are in a situation where I think less than 10% of men in the UK take the two weeks paternity leave that you are offered," Walker says.

The Guardian

"He was also playing in a very good moment so we hope he can come back as soon as possible but I think less than six or seven weeks will be difficult".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer and more direct phrasing such as "considered less than" or "believed to be less significant" to ensure your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "thought less than" in formal writing. Instead, use straightforward comparative language to clearly express that something is valued or considered to be of a lower standard than something else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought less than" functions as a comparative expression, attempting to convey that something is considered of lower value or importance. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "thought less than" appears in various sources, including news and media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase attempts to convey a sense of lower value or significance, but its non-standard usage can lead to ambiguity. For clearer and more effective communication, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "considered less than" or "regarded as inferior to". This ensures your writing is both precise and aligned with standard English conventions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered to be of lower quality

Replaces "thought" with a more direct synonym "considered" and restructures the phrase for clarity.

regarded as inferior to

Uses "regarded" instead of "thought" and "inferior" to specify the lower status.

estimated to be smaller than

Substitutes "thought" with "estimated" to focus on a quantitative assessment.

believed to be of less significance

Replaces "thought" with "believed" and uses "less significance" to convey reduced importance.

deemed not as important as

Employs "deemed" instead of "thought" to indicate a formal judgment of lower importance.

judged to be of a lesser standard

Uses "judged" and "lesser standard" to suggest a comparative evaluation.

perceived as less valuable than

Replaces "thought" with "perceived" to show subjective evaluation.

rated lower than

Offers a straightforward substitution to indicate lower ranking.

valued less than

Focuses on the valuation aspect, indicating a lower assessed worth.

accounted for to a smaller extent than

Presents a more formal alternative emphasizing the degree of consideration.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "thought less than"?

You can use alternatives like "considered less than", "believed to be less significant", or "regarded as inferior to" depending on the context.

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

While not grammatically ideal, "thought less than" might appear in informal contexts. However, it's better to rephrase for clarity, for example, "I thought less about the consequences than I should have."

Which is correct, "thought less than" or "considered less than"?

"Considered less than" is generally preferred because it's more grammatically correct and widely accepted. "Thought less than" can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "thought less than" and "think less of"?

"Think less of" implies a reduction in respect or admiration, whereas "thought less than" (though grammatically questionable) might suggest a lack of consideration or lower estimation. For example, "I think less of his actions" versus "I thought less about the risks involved".