Idioms for less
less than,
by far short of being; not in the least; hardly at all: The job is less than perfect.
Origin of less
before 900; Middle English; Old English
lǣs (adv.),
lǣssa (adj.); cognate with Old Frisian
lês (adv.),
lêssa (adj.). See
least
usage note for less
Even though
less has been used before plural nouns (
less words; less men ) since the time of King Alfred, many modern usage guides say that only
fewer can be used in such contexts.
Less, they say, should modify singular mass nouns (
less sugar; less money ) and singular abstract nouns (
less honesty; less love ). It should modify plural nouns only when they suggest combination into a unit, group, or aggregation:
less than $50 (a sum of money);
less than three miles (a unit of distance). With plural nouns specifying individuals or readily distinguishable units, the guides say that
fewer is the only proper choice:
fewer words; fewer men; no fewer than 31 of the 50 states.
Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years.
Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH less
fewer less (see usage note at the current entry)Words nearby less
British Dictionary definitions for less than
less
/ (lɛs) /
determiner
adverb
preposition
subtracting; minus
three weeks less a day
Word Origin for less
Old English
lǣssa (adj),
lǣs (adv, n)
usage for less
Less should not be confused with
fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number:
there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number:
there are fewer people than before
Idioms and Phrases with less than (1 of 2)
less than
Not at all or hardly at all. For example, He had a less than favorable view of the matter, or She had a less than adequate grasp of the subject. This expression uses less in the sense of “a smaller quantity, number, or extent than is implied,” a usage dating from about a.d. 1000. The same sense appears in less than no time, a hyperbolic term for a very short time (as in Don't worry, he'll be here in less than no time) that dates from about 1800.
Idioms and Phrases with less than (2 of 2)
less