(legal) "Not Less Than One" [definition from staff report on serial killers]

[Quercus]

In the staff report about sociopaths/serial killers, Gfactor quotes a definition from the U.S. legal code (underlining added by me)

Originally Posted by 28 U.S.C. § 540B

The term “serial killings” means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States...

Does anyone have a reason for saying "not less than one" instead of "at least one"? I admit the possibility that it's just someone trying to sound more legal-like by being more obfuscatory, but wondered if there's some not-obvious reason for using the more awkward construction.


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Link to Staff Report: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...al-killers-etc

[BrotherCadfael]

Originally Posted by Quercus

In the staff report about sociopaths/serial killers, Gfactor quotes a definition from the U.S. legal code (underlining added by me)
Does anyone have a reason for saying "not less than one" instead of "at least one"? I admit the possibility that it's just someone trying to sound more legal-like by being more obfuscatory, but wondered if there's some not-obvious reason for using the more awkward construction.

Mathematically, there is no difference between the two, assuming you are talking about whole numbers only.

In everyday English, there might be a connotation of "at least one" (and maybe a whole lot more!) vs. "not less than one" (if that!).

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by Quercus

In the staff report about sociopaths/serial killers, Gfactor quotes a definition from the U.S. legal code (underlining added by me)
Does anyone have a reason for saying "not less than one" instead of "at least one"? I admit the possibility that it's just someone trying to sound more legal-like by being more obfuscatory, but wondered if there's some not-obvious reason for using the more awkward construction.

I'm pretty sure that in addition to being awkward, it's wrong.

It should be "...no less than..."

[OldGuy]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

I'm pretty sure that in addition to being awkward, it's wrong.

It should be "...no less than..."

Well actually "... no fewer than..." unless you can have partial killings

[Gfactor]

I'm moving this thread from General Questions ot Comments on Staff Reports because the question is about something from a staff report.

Gfactor
General Questions Moderator

[Gfactor]

I've also added some context to the thread title. Here is a link to the staff report: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...al-killers-etc

[Elendil's Heir]

Originally Posted by Quercus

...Does anyone have a reason for saying "not less than one" instead of "at least one"? I admit the possibility that it's just someone trying to sound more legal-like by being more obfuscatory, but wondered if there's some not-obvious reason for using the more awkward construction.

Not that I can see. It's just a slightly more legalistic-sounding phrase. Were I drafting the law, I would use "at least one."

[Indistinguishable]

Originally Posted by OldGuy

Well actually "... no fewer than..." unless you can have partial killings

You are referring to an urban legend, an old wives' tale, so to speak; an alleged rule of grammar that has no actual basis in fact. Rather than hijack the thread, I shall simply link to a previous discussion of this contrived shibboleth.