a distinctly small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distinctly small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the notable smallness of an object or concept in a descriptive context. Example: "The garden featured a distinctly small fountain that added charm to the landscape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Compared to the soil temperature change at a depth of 1 m, the soil temperature at a depth of 15 m has a distinctly small amplitude in response to future climate change.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

There are only a little more than 300,000 people in Belize, and that gives the entire country a distinctly small town feel.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Until an arrest is made, the uneasiness is unlikely to subside in West Trenton, a middle-class suburb with a distinctly small-town feel.

The New York Times

While bringing some big-city professionalism to a distinctly small-time operation, he says he is making enough money to support himself, and he has been able to assign some freelance work to a few underemployed former colleagues.

The New York Times

Spain, for example, chose not to submit Pedro Almodovar's "Skin I Live In," and France, which last year passed over the highly praised "Of Gods and Men" and was widely criticized for doing so, submitted "Declaration of War," a drama about a young couple's battle to save their sick child that has a distinctly small-budget indie feel.

The New York Times

To concentrate on this country alone, without the Situationists, there would have been no Sex Pistols, with all that entails, a distinctly smaller possibility of Iain Sinclair- or Will Self-ian psychogeographical dérives, and a whole tranche of associated cultural inspiration would have gone missing.

The Guardian - Books

The volume parameters show that the RAF which is formed during crystallisation from the melt has a distinctly smaller specific free and total volume than the MAF.

Polymer

c Two months after the start with steroids, a distinctly smaller orbital mass is seen on fat suppression MRI scan with residual perineural thickening of the optic nerve without contrast enhancement.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

There is a distinctly small-town feel to Utila.

Huffington Post

This difference in CCP after varying the PaCO2 was in a distinctly smaller range than that observed in our septic patients.

Critical Care

As shown in Tables  4 and 5, the scoring of lung lesions according to the AVVLmH criteria [ 13] by AQAs improved dramatically and differed at a distinctly smaller degree compared with the assessments of the OV.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a distinctly small" to emphasize that something is not just small, but noticeably or remarkably so. It adds a layer of emphasis beyond simple smallness.

Common error

While grammatically correct, avoid using "a distinctly small" excessively in very formal writing. Opt for more precise or technical terms to describe size when accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distinctly small" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate size. It emphasizes that the smallness is noticeable or remarkable. Ludwig AI examples show it describing amplitudes, towns, and budget indie films.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Science

33.33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a distinctly small" is a grammatically correct and usable adjectival phrase to emphasize the noticeable smallness of something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usage across various contexts, including news and scientific articles. While versatile, it's best used when highlighting the degree of smallness is important and appropriate. Consider alternatives like "markedly small" or "notably small" for similar emphasis. Be mindful of overusing it in highly formal contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the AI finds the phrase correct and usable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a markedly small

Replaces "distinctly" with "markedly", indicating noticeable smallness.

a notably small

Substitutes "distinctly" with "notably", emphasizing the noteworthy aspect of the smallness.

a clearly small

Replaces "distinctly" with "clearly", highlighting the obvious smallness.

an obviously small

Uses "obviously" instead of "distinctly" to stress the evident nature of the smallness.

a particularly small

Changes "distinctly" to "particularly", focusing on the specific smallness.

a significantly small

Replaces "distinctly" with "significantly", emphasizing the importance of the smallness.

a palpably small

Substitutes "distinctly" with "palpably", indicating the smallness is easily perceived.

a noticeably petite

Replaces "distinctly small" with "noticeably petite", using a different adjective to convey smallness.

a conspicuously miniature

Changes "distinctly small" to "conspicuously miniature", emphasizing the diminutive size and its obviousness.

an exceptionally tiny

Emphasizes smallness with "exceptionally tiny", conveying an extreme degree of small size.

FAQs

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

Use "a distinctly small" to describe something that is noticeably smaller than average or expected. For example: "The apartment had "a distinctly small" kitchen."

What are some alternatives to "a distinctly small"?

Alternatives include "a markedly small", "a notably small", or "a clearly small", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a distinctly small" more formal or informal?

"A distinctly small" is relatively neutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it is often used in descriptive writing where emphasis is desired.

What's the difference between "a distinctly small" and "a very small"?

"A very small" simply indicates a small size, while ""a distinctly small"" suggests that the smallness is noticeable or remarkable in some way, adding an element of emphasis.