was lower than

USAGE SUMMARY

"was lower than" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to compare two things, usually indicating that one thing is lower than the other. For example, "The temperature on Tuesday was lower than on Wednesday."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was lower than expected.

The New York Times

This was lower than the benchmark.

The New York Times

His blood pressure was lower than ever.

The New York Times

The error was lower than 2.5%.

Journal of Biomechanics

Intraexaminer agreement was lower than expected.

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

The repeatability was lower than 6.4%.

Journal of Chromatography A

The current efficiency was lower than 30%.

Electrochimica Acta

At 10% the tax was lower than campaigners wanted.

The Guardian

However, the rise was lower than the expected 900,000.

The Guardian - Business

In pitch, it was lower than a helicon tuba.

The New Yorker

Sales rose 1.9percentt, which was lower than expected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data, ensure that the units being compared are consistent. For example, compare percentages with percentages and absolute numbers with absolute numbers.

Common error

Avoid comparing unrelated entities. Ensure that the items being compared share a relevant characteristic or metric.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was lower than" primarily functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one quantity, measurement, or value is less than another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was lower than" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express comparisons. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for diverse contexts from scientific reports to news articles. While alternatives such as "was less than" or "fell short of" may offer nuanced meanings, "was lower than" remains a clear and widely accepted choice. Remember to maintain consistency in your comparisons and avoid comparing unrelated entities for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was less than

A direct synonym, replacing "lower" with "less" for a more general comparison.

was under

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the meaning of being below a certain level.

underperformed compared to

Specifically used in contexts where performance is being evaluated against a standard.

did not exceed

Replaces the direct comparison with a limit; focuses on remaining under a specific value.

remained beneath

Suggests a persistent state of being below a specific point.

fell short of

Emphasizes the failure to reach a target or expectation.

decreased relative to

Highlights the change or reduction compared to a reference point.

did not match

Focuses on the lack of parity with an expected level or standard.

showed a deficit compared with

Highlights a shortage or deficiency in relation to another value.

was dwarfed by

Emphasizes the significant difference in size or amount between two things.

FAQs

How can I use "was lower than" in a sentence?

Use "was lower than" to compare two values or measurements, indicating that one is less than the other. For example, "The unemployment rate this year "was lower than" last year".

What is a simple substitute for "was lower than"?

A simple substitute is "was less than". It maintains the same meaning and is suitable for most contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "was lower than" instead of "decreased"?

"Was lower than" is used for direct comparison, while "decreased" indicates a change over time or from a previous state. For instance, "This year's sales "was lower than" last year's," versus "Sales decreased this quarter."

Is there a more formal alternative to "was lower than"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "did not exceed" or "fell short of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. However, "was lower than" is generally acceptable in most professional writing.