Moderately small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Moderately small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is small in size but not extremely so, indicating a middle ground in size. Example: "The moderately small apartment was perfect for a single person, offering just enough space without being overwhelming."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Moderately small eruptions can kill a lot of people.

Stanford University

Considerable progress has been made in defining and incorporating evaluation criteria in systems that generalize maps over moderately small changes in scale.

Generalisation of Geographic Information Cartographic Modelling and Applications

Model II is valid for very small ε (e.g., ε=10−7), but Model I for a moderately small ε (=0.1 10−4).

Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics

For the vibrations of the shell itself, the dynamic version of the Sanders non-linear equations for the case of moderately small rotations is employed.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Due to its large range, stable population trend, and moderately small to large population size, the conservation status of Great Swallow-tailed Swift currently is listed by IUCN as Least Concern (Birdlife International 2012).

Cornell University

The data from San Francisco County, however, produce a moderately small significance probability (0.08) arising from a distance analysis and a significant p-value (0.01) arising from a frequency analysis of concordant case pairs.

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Instead, he wants to be a living example encouraging people to downsize, even if it's only to a moderately smaller home.

The New York Times

BEF and R were also correlated with each other in this study, but the correlation coefficient was moderately smaller.

Carbon Balance and Management

Contrary to previous findings with whites, black subjects with a parental history of hypertension exhibited significantly smaller systolic blood pressure and forearm blood flow increases, and moderately smaller diastolic blood pressure increases to the task.

Duke University

The results across two different open source programs were then compared against a previous mono-objective and previous multi-objective approach, and, while the number of defects resolved was moderately smaller, the meaningful refactorings were increased.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

The amplitude of the MI at the HUA station is larger (approximately −50 nT) than at GOES-12 (approximately −19 nT), and the amplitude ratio of the satellite to the ground is 0.34, which is moderately smaller than that recorded by Kokubun (1983) (0 55 at 07:00 MLT).

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "moderately small" to provide a nuanced description of size, indicating it's not extremely small but noticeably less than average. This is helpful when precision is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately small" when a more precise measurement or comparison is possible. If you can quantify the size, do so, rather than relying on a subjective assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately small" functions as a qualifying adjective modifying a noun. It describes the degree or extent of smallness, indicating something is not extremely small but noticeably less than average. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

72%

Academia

16%

News & Media

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "moderately small" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase to describe something that is less than average in size but not extremely so. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Predominantly found in scientific and academic writing, it also appears in news media, making it versatile across various registers. When using this phrase, ensure it provides a more precise description than simply "small", and consider quantifying the size for greater clarity if possible. Alternatives like "somewhat small" or "fairly small" can offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat small

Replaces "moderately" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly lesser degree of smallness.

Fairly small

Uses "fairly" instead of "moderately", suggesting a similar level of smallness.

Reasonably small

Emphasizes that the size is within acceptable or expected limits.

Slightly small

Indicates a minor degree of smallness.

Relatively small

Highlights the smallness in comparison to something else.

Medium-small

Combines medium and small, implying it's closer to medium but still on the smaller side.

Modestly small

Suggests a humble or unassuming degree of smallness.

Not very large

Expresses the idea by negating largeness, rather than directly affirming smallness.

On the smaller side

A more conversational way of indicating something is somewhat small.

Of limited size

Focuses on the size being restricted or not expansive.

FAQs

How can I use "moderately small" in a sentence?

You can use "moderately small" to describe something that is somewhat smaller than average, but not extremely so. For example: "The "moderately small apartment" was perfect for a single person."

What's a good alternative to "moderately small"?

Alternatives include "somewhat small", "fairly small", or "relatively small", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "moderately small" formal or informal?

"Moderately small" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more precise language might be preferred in highly technical or scientific writing.

When is it appropriate to use "moderately small" instead of just "small"?

Use "moderately small" when you want to indicate a degree of smallness that is less extreme than "small". It suggests a subtle distinction, useful when the precise size matters.