was markedly less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was markedly less" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant reduction or decrease in a particular quality or quantity compared to something else. Example: "The new model was markedly less efficient than its predecessor, leading to increased operational costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One behaved normally, but the other was markedly less active.

The Economist

This was tried during the transit strike two years ago, and there was markedly less congestion.

The New York Times

That was markedly less than the write-downs it made the previous quarter.

The New York Times

Though in death he rests in this distinguished company, Kierkegaard was markedly less revered in life.

The New York Times

However, he didn't hide the fact that he was markedly less optimistic than he had been in November.

The New Yorker

Finally, a man who was markedly less prepared and talented than his female opponent was called out as such.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes! Yes!" Later, Martha Karolyi was markedly less animated, saying, "This shows that the U.S. team is superior".

The New York Times - Sports

In February, one of Lin's former students, a professor named Yao Yang, who serves as the director of the think tank that Lin co-founded, published a view of China's economic future that was markedly less sanguine than his mentor's.

The New Yorker

But, to put it politely, Motty was markedly less successful when he predicted things like the possibility of England winning or retaining possession of the ball for longer than about six seconds.

The Guardian

Cytotoxicity evaluations indicated that the new copolymer was markedly less toxic than PEI 25KD.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

According to the Tokyo 2000 IRWIO table compiled in this study, the quantity of MSW generated was markedly less than industrial waste.

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was markedly less", ensure that the comparison is clear and that the difference is significant enough to warrant the emphasis. This phrase is effective when highlighting a noticeable change.

Common error

Avoid using "was markedly less" in very informal or casual writing. Simpler alternatives like "was much less" or "was a lot smaller" may be more appropriate for conversational tones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was markedly less" functions as a comparative adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb to indicate that something is significantly reduced in comparison to something else. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts to express notable differences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was markedly less" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate a significant reduction or decrease. Ludwig's analysis, confirmed by numerous examples, shows its prevalence in various contexts, particularly in science and news media. While versatile, it is best suited for neutral to formal writing, emphasizing notable differences. Keep in mind that it's important to ensure that the comparison is clear and that the difference is significant enough to warrant the emphasis, as Ludwig AI confirms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was significantly smaller

Replaces "markedly less" with "significantly smaller", focusing on a decrease in size or amount.

was substantially reduced

Uses "substantially reduced" to convey a considerable decrease.

was considerably lower

Employs "considerably lower" to indicate a notable reduction in quantity or degree.

was notably diminished

Replaces the original phrase with "notably diminished", highlighting a clear decrease.

was appreciably decreased

Uses "appreciably decreased" to suggest a measurable reduction.

was visibly lessened

Replaces "markedly less" with "visibly lessened", focusing on the observable reduction.

exhibited a significant decline

Changes the structure to "exhibited a significant decline", emphasizing the downward trend.

showed a considerable drop

Uses "showed a considerable drop" to indicate a substantial decrease.

experienced a marked reduction

Rephrases to "experienced a marked reduction", highlighting the impact of the decrease.

was discernibly reduced

Replaces "markedly less" with "discernibly reduced", emphasizing that the reduction is easy to perceive.

FAQs

How can I use "was markedly less" in a sentence?

Use "was markedly less" to indicate a significant decrease or reduction compared to something else. For example, "The cost of the new system "was markedly less" than the previous one."

What are some alternatives to "was markedly less"?

You can use alternatives like "was significantly smaller", "was substantially reduced", or "was considerably lower" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "was markedly less" in formal writing?

Yes, "was markedly less" is suitable for formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize a noticeable difference. It's commonly found in scientific, news, and business contexts.

What is the difference between "was markedly less" and "was slightly less"?

"Was markedly less" indicates a significant difference or reduction, while "was slightly less" suggests a small or minor difference. The choice depends on the degree of difference you want to convey.