a much smaller time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a much smaller time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing durations or periods, indicating that one time frame is significantly less than another. Example: "The project took a much smaller time to complete than we initially anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But, Mr. Rove added, "we were having to get it done in a much smaller time frame".

The New York Times

Therefore, in order to make use of the channel feedback, faster scheduling (at a much smaller time scale) is required.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Water, formaldehyde and methane are produced on a much smaller time scale than dimethyl ether and the olefins.

Chemical Engineering Science

In these algorithms, the optimality system is split into many small subsystems over a much smaller time interval, which are coupled by appropriate continuity matching conditions.

Computers & Mathematics with Applications

The prediction error for the inexpensive algorithm is within similar ranges as those found with the computationally more expensive algorithm, yet occurring over a much smaller time frame.

Journal of Big Data

Companies are in reality predominantly quite small and short-lived, coming and going on a much smaller time scale than large firms.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

An alternative approach to the horizontal comparison between populations/species would be to perform a longitudinal analysis of correlations of the same population over much smaller time scales.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

On the other hand, the explicit schema might require much smaller time steps compared to implicit integration alternative especially for models with high stiffness and low mass density.

Procedia Engineering

Because the FDM simulations are performed with much smaller time steps compared to the dominant period of the seismic waves, a temporal decimation is often applied to reduce the data size.

Earth, Planets and Space

Much smaller time increments are required for the modelling of τe, but even with separately selected rate parameterisations for the prediction of τi, and τe values, the global model predictions of τe were only within an order of magnitude of those from the comprehensive kinetic scheme.

Combustion and Flame

In particular, chemical reactions and changes of enzyme activity happen on much smaller time scales than changes in gene expression.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the efficiency of two processes, use "a much smaller time" to emphasize the reduction in duration for the faster one. For example: "The new algorithm completes the calculation in "a much smaller time" compared to the old one."

Common error

Avoid using "times" when you mean "time". "Time" refers to duration, while "times" refers to instances or multiples. Incorrect: "It took "a much smaller times" to finish the project." Correct: "It took "a much smaller time" to finish the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a much smaller time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the duration of an action or event, indicating that it takes significantly less time compared to something else, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a much smaller time" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that effectively conveys a significant reduction in duration. As verified by Ludwig, it appears frequently in both scientific and news contexts, indicating its versatility across different registers. While alternatives such as "a significantly shorter duration" or "a considerably reduced timeframe" exist, "a much smaller time" maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse writing scenarios. Remember to avoid the common error of using "times" instead of "time" when referring to duration. Ludwig's examples highlight the phrase's role in emphasizing efficiency and improved performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significantly shorter duration

Emphasizes the reduced length of time more formally.

a considerably reduced timeframe

Highlights the reduction in the period allotted, with a focus on planning.

a markedly briefer interval

Uses more formal vocabulary to denote a shorter period.

a substantially lessened period

Focuses on the decrease in the amount of time.

a greatly diminished timespan

Emphasizes the notable reduction in the length of the period.

a notably quicker pace

Shifts focus to the speed at which something happens rather than the overall duration.

a remarkably faster tempo

Similar to 'quicker pace', but often implies a change in rhythm or speed of activity.

a vastly condensed schedule

Refers to making a schedule shorter and more compact.

a radically abbreviated span

Implies a drastic reduction in the length of time.

an extensively curtailed phase

Emphasizes the limitation or reduction of a specific part of a process over time.

FAQs

How can I use "a much smaller time" in a sentence?

Use "a much smaller time" to compare durations, indicating one is significantly shorter than another. Example: "Completing the task required "a much smaller time" than initially estimated."

What are some alternatives to "a much smaller time"?

You can use alternatives like "a significantly shorter duration", "a considerably reduced timeframe", or "a markedly briefer interval" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a much less time" instead of "a much smaller time"?

While "less" can refer to amount, "smaller" is more appropriate when referring to duration. Therefore, "a much smaller time" is generally preferred.

What's the difference between "a shorter time" and "a much smaller time"?

"A shorter time" indicates a comparative reduction. "A much smaller time" emphasizes a significant or substantial reduction in duration.