no less than * days before

[pinkie9]

Which of the following make sense?

1. Usually, the application should be submitted not less than 10 days before the lecture day.
2. Usually, the application should be submitted at least, no less than 10 days before the lecture day.

(This is a situation where the lecture date has not been decided yet but you want to explain the basic rules.
If there will be a lecture on April 20, you want people to submit the applicatioin by April 10.)

I guess 2 is incorrect but I'm not sure about the reason. (2 was written by someone else.) Is that incorrect because using both "at least" and "no less than" is redundant or because it should be "not less than" instead of "no less than" here?

Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Which of the following make sense?

1. Usually, the application should be submitted not less than 10 days before the lecture day.
2. Usually, the application should be submitted at least, no less than 10 days before the lecture day.

(This is a situation where the lecture date has not been decided yet but you want to explain the basic rules.
If there will be a lecture on April 20, you want people to submit the applicatioin by April 10.)

I guess 2 is incorrect but I'm not sure about the reason. (2 was written by someone else.) Is that incorrect because using both "at least" and "no less than" is redundant or because it should be "not less than" instead of "no less than" here?

Thank you.

#2 is wrong because, as you suggest, both "at least" and "no less than" are used.

 

[BobK]

:up:

Which of the following make sense?

1. Usually, the application should be submitted not less than 10 days before the lecture day.
2. Usually, the application should be submitted at least[STRIKE], no less than[/STRIKE] 10 days before the lecture day.

(This is a situation where the lecture date has not been decided yet but you want to explain the basic rules.
If there will be a lecture on April 20, you want people to submit the applicatioin by April 10.)

I guess 2 is incorrect but I'm not sure about the reason. (2 was written by someone else.) Is that incorrect because using both "at least" and "no less than" is redundant or because it should be "not less than" instead of "no less than" here?

Thank you.

Either of these would work (with the deletion from 2), but I advise no. 2 (to avoid the [mistaken] attentions of pedants who spend their lives looking for 'less' and a number and claiming to have spotted 'a mistake' ;-))

b

 

[pinkie9]

Thank you, but I don't understand the red part (because of my poor English skills). :-|

(to avoid the [mistaken] attentions of pedants who spend their lives looking for 'less' and a number and claiming to have spotted 'a mistake' ;-))

At first, I thought you meant the rule that a number should be used with "fewer", not "less". But "not less than 10 days" is correct, so...?

 

[BobK]

Yes and yes. When I said 'less and a number' I meant that people who misunderstand the rule use nearness as a criterion.

b

 

[pinkie9]

I see.

Just to be sure...
"No less than" is wrong here even without "at least", isn't it?

 

[BobK]

Both 'no' and 'not' are right.

b