a further smaller

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a further smaller" is not correct and does not work in written English.
It is unclear and redundant, as "further" and "smaller" do not logically combine in this way. Example: "We need to make a further smaller adjustment to the design." (This example is still awkward and not recommended.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A further, smaller amount is stored at the Dounreay nuclear facility in Scotland, the site of the doomed nuclear fast-breeder reactor programme.

Independent

In the process of liquid crystallization for BLC44, the SAXS peak due to the microphase separation structure existing before liquid crystallization was changed continuously to be at a smaller angular side, and at almost the same time, a new peak appeared at a further smaller angular side and developed.

Polymer

A further, smaller, amplicon showed greatest homology with B. crocidurae and fell outside the cluster of B. recurrentis and B. duttonii sequences and was found in both a tick and a patient.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Results indicate that the greatest reduction occurred between time 1 (pre-consultation) and time 2 (short term follow up) (t(186)=7.18, P<0.0001) with a further smaller reduction from time 2 to the 6 month follow up (t(186)=2.59, P<0.01).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Ultimately, if Lamont is able to move to the centre and persuades only a further small slice of the more conservative Democrats, Lieberman loses.

The Guardian - Opinion

But progress is sluggish – for example 2010-11 saw a further small increase in the share of spending in acute hospitals and a reduction in the share of spending in primary care.

The Guardian

Police said a further small amount was found in the area of the bus occupied by bandmate Thomas Delton Black leading Black, 47, to be arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Independent

On 5 November, two men in their 30s were arrested in Dublin, where a drug distribution centre was raided and a further "small seizure" of controlled drugs and documents related to offshore bank accounts in Switzerland, Belize, Poland and a number of other countries was carried out.

The Guardian - Tech

That is already weak, which means that if inflation does drop further (the forecast envisages it could be as low as 0.6% this year) the ECB will have to do more.A first step could be a further small cut in the lending rate, to 0.1%.

The Economist

Combining the frequency domain method with other techniques yields a further small improvement in accuracy.

Advances in Space Research

Robert Kubica has undergone a further small operation as he continues his rehabilitation from his rally accident in Italy in February.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a further smaller" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "a slightly smaller" or "a smaller additional" to maintain grammatical correctness and readability.

Common error

Be cautious when combining "further" and "smaller" directly. These words modify nouns in different ways (incremental vs. size) and can sound redundant or unclear together. Consider rewriting the sentence to avoid this construction altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a further smaller" attempts to function as a compound adjective modifying a noun. However, its grammatical validity is questionable. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is not considered correct in written English. The examples show its limited and often awkward usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a further smaller" is grammatically awkward and its usage should be avoided. Ludwig AI deems this phrase as incorrect. While it appears in some scientific and news contexts, better alternatives such as "a slightly smaller" or "a smaller additional" offer greater clarity and grammatical correctness. When aiming to express an incremental reduction, consider restructuring your sentence to achieve a more natural and professional tone. Always prioritize clear and precise language over potentially confusing constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slightly smaller

Replaces "further" with "slightly" for a more natural flow.

a marginally smaller

Substitutes "further" with "marginally" to indicate a small degree.

a further slight

Reorders the adjectives, but it still sounds awkward.

a yet smaller

Replaces "further" with "yet" to imply an ongoing reduction.

an even smaller

Substitutes "further" with "even" to emphasize the reduction.

a still smaller

Replaces "further" with "still" to show continuous decrease.

a smaller additional

Rearranges the phrase for better readability.

a slightly reduced

Uses "reduced" instead of "smaller" for a different emphasis.

a marginally decreased

Employs "decreased" for formal tone.

a slightly diminished

Replaces "smaller" with "diminished" for a more formal tone.

FAQs

Is "a further smaller" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "a further smaller" is grammatically awkward and not recommended. It's better to use alternatives like "a slightly smaller" or "a smaller additional".

What are some alternatives to "a further smaller"?

You can use alternatives such as "a slightly smaller", "a marginally smaller", or "a smaller additional" depending on the specific context.

Why is "a further smaller" considered grammatically incorrect?

The combination of "further" and "smaller" can sound redundant because "further" implies an incremental change, while "smaller" refers to size. This can create an unclear or awkward construction. As shown by Ludwig AI, this phrase is deemed as incorrect.

How can I rephrase a sentence containing "a further smaller" to improve clarity?

Consider restructuring the sentence to use more precise language. For example, instead of "a further smaller reduction", try "a slightly smaller reduction" or "a smaller additional reduction".