a shorter than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a shorter than expected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that took less time or was less lengthy than anticipated. Example: "The meeting was a shorter than expected, allowing us to finish our work early."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Unusually, Davis then introduced an interview conducted by Wark, although it was unclear if this is part of a talent-spreading strategy or if a shorter than expected talk with Corbyn had left a hole in the running order.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Only five primer pair amplified a shorter than expected fragment, suggesting that a deletion mutation had occurred in the amplified region.

BMC Genomics

Comparing boys with prenatal MBP concentration in the highest quartile with those in the lowest quartile, the odds ratio for a shorter than expected AGI was 10.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.5 to 42.2).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Because of a mistake by the clerk of the course, Roderick Duncan, the two 3m2f races will actually take place over three miles and half a furlong, while all the other races will be a furlong shorter than expected.

The Guardian - Sport

Moreover because the admissions without an AE show on average no excess LOS (half a day shorter than expected).

BMC Health Services Research

Operations Manager Andrea Accomazzo confirmed that the lander's radar altimeter did switch on and that its retro rockets fired up to slow its descent, "but only for a few seconds, shorter than expected," he said.

Science Magazine

Sequencing of RT-PCR products from the embryonic samples indicated the presence of a shorter transcript than expected for Amer2.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Moreover, the regime of topical treatment of lesions in this particular herd is considered relatively aggressive and may have resulted in a shorter duration than expected in commercial herds in general.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

A boy with short AGI has, on average, an AGI that is 18% shorter than expected based on his age and weight as well as an increased likelihood of testicular maldescent, small and indistinct scrotum, and smaller penile size.

Environmental Health Perspectives

She noted that distances between non-bonded groups within a single molecule can be shorter than expected from their van der Waals radii, e.g., the 2.93 Å distance between methyl groups in hexamethylbenzene.

Wikipedia

The radiographs on average showed a regenerate that was 10% shorter than expected.

Acta Orthopaedica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a shorter than expected" when you want to convey that something's duration or length was less than anticipated. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a shorter than expected" when referring to abstract concepts like emotions or decisions. Stick to concrete measurements like time or distance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a shorter than expected" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a noun that represents a period of time, length, or duration. It indicates that the actual length was less than what was anticipated. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a shorter than expected" is grammatically correct and versatile for describing durations or lengths that are less than anticipated. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in various contexts, primarily appearing in scientific and news-related domains. It serves to highlight a deviation from a prior expectation or estimation. To enhance clarity, consider context-appropriate alternatives such as "less lengthy than anticipated" or "briefer than anticipated".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less lengthy than anticipated

Replaces "shorter" with "less lengthy" and "expected" with "anticipated", maintaining the core meaning with slightly more formal language.

briefer than anticipated

Substitutes "shorter" with "briefer", providing a more concise alternative while keeping "anticipated".

of a briefer duration than foreseen

Replaces "shorter" and "expected" with "briefer duration" and "foreseen", creating a more formal and descriptive alternative.

not as long as anticipated

Uses a more direct and less formal structure to express the same concept.

of reduced length compared to expectation

Offers a formal and technical alternative, emphasizing the comparison to an expected length.

more concise than initially predicted

Shifts the focus to conciseness and prediction, implying that something was briefer in content or form.

lower in length than predicted

A more literal alternative, directly referencing the physical length or duration being lower than the prediction.

of a quicker completion time than projected

Focuses on the time aspect of the duration, indicating that something was completed faster than initially estimated.

under the anticipated length

A more simplified and direct alternative, meaning it did not meet the standard length.

a reduced timeframe compared to usual

Shifts focus on comparing the timeframe to usual expectation, still being shorter than average.

FAQs

How can I use "a shorter than expected" in a sentence?

You can use "a shorter than expected" to describe durations, lengths or periods that are less than anticipated. For example: "The meeting was "a shorter than expected", so we finished early".

What can I say instead of "a shorter than expected"?

You can use alternatives like "less lengthy than anticipated", "briefer than anticipated", or "not as long as anticipated" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "shorter than what was expected"?

Yes, "shorter than what was expected" is grammatically correct. ""a shorter than expected"" is a more concise way of expressing the same idea.

What's the difference between "a shorter than expected" and "a shorter than usual"?

"A shorter than expected" implies a deviation from a specific prediction, while "a shorter than usual" indicates a deviation from a typical or average duration.