2.115 'less'

The form which is used to indicate that something does not have as much of a quality as something else is 'less' followed by an adjective.

• The answer had been less truthful than his own.

You can also use 'less' and an adjective to say that something does not have as much of a quality as it had before.

• As the days went by, Sita became less anxious.

Note that 'less than' is used before adjectives like an emphatic negative.

• It would have been less than fair.