a relatively small

USAGE SUMMARY

"a relatively small" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is not particularly small, but smaller than other things in comparison. For example: "His house is large, but compared to his neighbor's mansion, it is a relatively small home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Netflix pays a relatively small licensing fee.

The New York Times

It's a relatively small park.

The New York Times

Weakness A relatively small heavyweight.

The Guardian - Sport

It also has a relatively small budget.

The New York Times

It's a relatively small amount of supplies.

The Guardian

Barcelona is a relatively small city.

The Guardian

Note also that Hoplophoneus was a relatively small cat.

University of California, Berkeley

Within a relatively small area lie centuries of history.

Harvard University

Enology is a relatively small and specialized field.

Cornell University

Edexcel is a relatively small player, she says.

The Guardian

True, it operates on a relatively small scale.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a relatively small" to indicate something is smaller compared to a reference point without necessarily being extremely small overall. This adds nuance and avoids overstating the size.

Common error

Avoid using "a relatively small" when describing something that is objectively tiny. The phrase implies comparison, so it's inappropriate for items that are small regardless of context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a relatively small" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is of a lesser size when compared to something else. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

26%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a relatively small" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe something that is smaller in comparison to something else, adding a layer of nuance to descriptions of size. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across diverse sources, including news, academia, and scientific publications. The phrase functions to contextualize the scale of the object or concept and is applicable in both formal and informal registers. Use it to provide a more precise and comparative understanding of size, avoiding overuse when describing something objectively tiny.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somewhat limited

Replaces 'small' with 'limited' and 'relatively' with 'somewhat', emphasizing a degree of restriction.

a moderately sized

Uses 'moderately sized' instead of 'relatively small', focusing on the size being average to below average.

a comparatively minor

Substitutes 'small' with 'minor' and 'relatively' with 'comparatively', suggesting a lower level of significance.

a fairly petite

Replaces 'relatively small' with 'fairly petite', indicating something is dainty or delicate in size.

a reasonably compact

Uses 'reasonably compact' to convey that something is small but efficiently arranged.

a slightly diminutive

Replaces 'relatively small' with 'slightly diminutive', emphasizing a reduction in size.

a smaller than average

Replaces 'relatively' with 'than average', making a direct comparison to what is typical.

a not particularly large

Uses a double negative ('not particularly large') to indirectly state that something is on the smaller side.

a somewhat reduced

Substitutes 'small' with 'reduced' and 'relatively' with 'somewhat', indicating a decrease from a previous size.

a fairly restricted

Employs 'fairly restricted' to suggest limitations in scope or amount, instead of physical size.

FAQs

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

Use "a relatively small" to describe something that is smaller than something else. For example, "This town has "a relatively small" population compared to the capital city".

What are some alternatives to "a relatively small"?

You can use alternatives such as "a somewhat limited", "a moderately sized", or "a comparatively minor", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a relatively small size"?

Yes, saying "a relatively small size" can be redundant because "small" already implies size. It's better to just use ""a relatively small"".

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

"A relatively small" indicates that something is small in comparison to something else, while "a very small" simply emphasizes that something is extremely small in an absolute sense.