two times less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'two times less than' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that one number is half of another number. For example: "My new car has two times less horsepower than my old car."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This activity is at least two times less than that reported in most studies [5 7].

EJNMMI Research

Consequently, the GaN buffer grown on this template is in a compressed state with a strain two times less than expected from pseudomorphic growth.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The number of metastatic foci in lungs of animals treated with C60 + Dox complex was two times less than that in control untreated animals.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This value is about two times less than at intergalactic scales but many orders of magnitude greater than was predicted in earlier theoretical works.

Advances in Space Research

You may pay any where from one and a half to two times the price of a cab fare (but two times less than a traditional car service fee).

TechCrunch

Water flow polynomially decreased (R2 = 0.2665) from 0.2 km3 in 1977 to 0.3 km3 in 1984, comparing the estimated data, which was two times less than the observed result from Fig. 5.

Applied Water Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Scientists now know that the neutrino mass is more than a million times less than that of the electron.

The Guardian

However, this is still three times less than the average top salary in the private sector organisations we surveyed.

The Guardian

Germany's one-year bills yield ten times less than Greece's six-month ones (see chart).

The Economist

But this new rate is still at least eight times less than what you can get on the black market.

The Economist

Shipping, the import method preferred by Abel & Cole, generates 50 times less carbon dioxide than air freight and six times less than transport by road.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two times less than", ensure clarity by stating what the comparison is being made to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the relationship being described.

Common error

Avoid confusing "two times less than" with "two times fewer than". "Less than" is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time), while "fewer than" is used for countable nouns (e.g., apples, people). While in some contexts you may read "two times less" just consider that this is only possible with uncountable nouns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two times less than" functions as a quantitative descriptor, indicating that one value is half the size or amount of another. Ludwig examples show it is often used in scientific and news contexts to compare measurements, costs, or quantities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "two times less than" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that one quantity is half of another. While it might occasionally sound slightly awkward, Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, offering a precise way to compare values. For simpler phrasing, alternatives like "half as much as" or "50% of" can be considered. Remember to use "less than" for uncountable nouns and to specify the comparison for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half as much as

Uses a simpler structure to indicate the quantity is halved.

50% of

Expresses the quantity as a percentage, highlighting the fractional reduction.

halved compared to

Explicitly states the halving action, emphasizing the comparison.

reduced by half compared to

Similar to 'halved compared to' but includes 'reduced by half'.

one-half the amount of

Uses a more formal and mathematical tone.

a twofold decrease from

Describes the reduction as a 'twofold decrease'.

decreased by a factor of two from

Highlights that the value has reduced by a factor of two.

twice as small as

Emphasizes the relative smallness compared to the original quantity.

one-half the size of

Similar to “half as much as” but specifies “size”.

down by 50 percent compared to

Emphasizes the 'down by' part and use percentage.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "two times less than" to sound more natural?

You can use phrases like "half as much as" or "50% of" as alternatives to "two times less than". These options often sound more fluent in everyday speech.

Is it grammatically correct to say "two times less than"?

Yes, "two times less than" is grammatically correct, although it may sound slightly awkward to some. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English. It means that the first value is half of the second value.

What does "two times less than" mean?

"Two times less than" means that a quantity is half the size or amount of another quantity. For example, if A is "two times less than" B, then A is half of B.

When should I use "two times less than" in my writing?

Use "two times less than" when you want to express that one quantity is half the amount of another quantity. It is suitable for scientific, news, and general contexts, where a precise quantitative comparison is needed.