was lesser than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was lesser than" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "was less than," which is used to compare quantities or degrees. Example: "The temperature yesterday was less than it was today."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The hazard quotient for molluscs was lesser than the global bench mark dose rate of 10 μGy h 1.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Our findings revealed that aluminium (coming from alumina nanoparticles) in the removed areas was lesser than in the other worn sites.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The corrosion current density of the forsterite coated samples was lesser than that of the uncoated ones indicating the improvement of corrosion resistance of the metallic substrate using the forsterite coating.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Given the multiple tornado tragedies this season, in some ways it may seem the central U.S. dodged a bullet yesterday, as even with multiple large and violent tornadoes, the human impact was lesser than recent.

The Washington Post

Mr. Farkas said Ms. Hollander's role in the illegal activity was lesser than that of her three co-defendants, who have each pleaded guilty to prostitution and money laundering conspiracy charges.

The New York Times

In comparison with the attachment of trapezoidal fins, it is found that the heat transfer rate was lesser than the rectangular cross section by keeping a constant outer diameter of the shell along with all other constraints of a heat exchanger design, namely, number of passes, tube outer diameter, tube pitch layout, etc.

Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

I wasn't teased, I wasn't bullied, few people ever tried to make me feel like I was lesser-than because my body was more-than.

Huffington Post

I am lesser than many of my contemporaries.

Independent

Items answered by guessing, indicate that the respondent's ability is lesser than its difficulty.

Columbia University

Uncertainties obtained were estimated to be lesser than 0.11‰ (2s) for the δ114/110Cd value.

Analytica Chimica Acta

Visually, do you think "Family Guy" is lesser than Matt Groening's "Simpsons"?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "was less than" instead of "was lesser than" for grammatically correct comparisons. Although "was lesser than" is common, especially in scientific and news media, it is not considered standard English.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser" as a comparative adjective with "than". "Lesser" already implies a comparison, so using "less than" is more appropriate in formal writing. Prefer "was less than" over "was lesser than".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was lesser than" functions as a comparative expression, attempting to establish a relative difference between two entities. While its intent is clear, Ludwig AI highlights that its grammatical structure is flawed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

19%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was lesser than" is a comparative construction intended to indicate that something is smaller or of less significance than something else. However, Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it's grammatically incorrect, with the correct phrasing being "was less than". Despite its incorrectness, "was lesser than" appears frequently, particularly in scientific and news contexts. When writing, it is best to use ""was less than"", or other suitable alternatives like "was smaller than" or "was inferior to", especially in formal contexts, to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was less than

This is the grammatically correct and most common alternative to express a smaller quantity or degree.

was smaller than

Emphasizes a difference in physical size or scale.

was lower than

Indicates a difference in height, level, or numerical value.

was inferior to

Highlights a difference in quality or status.

did not equal

Implies an inequality between two values.

was not as great as

A more descriptive way of saying that one thing was not as large or significant as another.

was a fraction of

This suggests that one value is only a small part of another.

was dwarfed by

Indicates one thing is much smaller in comparison.

paled in comparison to

Suggests that one thing is much less impressive when compared to another.

was undercut by

Expresses being less effective or impactful compared to an expected result.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something is smaller in quantity or degree?

The grammatically correct phrase is "was less than". While "was lesser than" is sometimes used, it's considered non-standard. For example, "The impact of the storm "was less than" predicted" is correct.

Can I use "was lesser than" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "was lesser than" in formal writing. Opt for the standard and grammatically sound alternative: "was less than". This ensures clarity and credibility in your writing.

What are some alternatives to "was lesser than" that I can use?

Besides "was less than", you can use options like "was smaller than", "was lower than", or "was inferior to" depending on the specific context.

Why is "was lesser than" considered grammatically incorrect?

The word "lesser" already carries a comparative meaning. Adding "than" makes the phrase redundant and deviates from standard English grammar. It's similar to saying "more bigger than", where "more" is unnecessary because "bigger" already implies a comparison.