a smaller pace

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a smaller pace" is not correct in standard English usage.
It may be intended to convey a slower speed or rate, but the word "pace" typically refers to speed rather than size. Example: "We need to take a smaller pace in our project to ensure quality over speed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is also shown that the crystallization first increases sharply and then at a smaller pace.

Polymer

Partly, good ol' fashioned payment of contributions, but the plan also benefitted from increases in the funding valuation rate increasing from 5% in 1975 to 8% in 1989, which meant liabilities grew at a smaller pace than they otherwise would have, due to drops in liability at each point at which the rate was increased.

Forbes

"I think premiums are likely to go up, but at a smaller pace than what we've seen since 2010," Mrs. Sebelius said, adding that she thought the likely increases would be less significant than they had been in the years before the federal health-care law was enacted.

Huffington Post

First, there is a steady increase in the ASIR, also along with increasing ASMR, though at a smaller pace than incidence, approximately up to the late 1980s or the early 1990s.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Other countries have ambitions in space, most prominently China, which has set itself the task of building a small pace station and landing an astronaut on the moon.

The Guardian

It can be clearly seen that the aphrons grow bigger at the first 3 h, and then they grow at a relatively smaller pace, and ultimately reach a stable value of about 150 μm after 6 h.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

So it is optimal for the firm to increase the second-period price simultaneously but at a relatively smaller pace in order to maintain an appropriate price gap under the condition of Strategy 2. In this subsection, we numerically compare the profits under different strategies, and investigate the parameter impact on the switching between different optimal strategies.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

The world's largest oil companies complain that because of such barriers, oil production is growing at a far smaller pace than they had forecast just a year ago.

The New York Times

While the social explorer shows a very high turnover in his social contacts and has a very high activity compared to his capacity, keeping only a very little stable network, the social keeper has a very stable social circle, and only has a very small pace of activating and deactivating ties.

EPJ Data Science

Pace a small piece of hooked Velcro on one end of your barrels for use in another game.

WikiHow

When the space of a group is small enough, the surrounding dusts will move with small pace calculated using Eq. (3); when the space of the group is big, surrounding dusts will move with big pace.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe a reduction in speed or rate, use the phrase "a slower pace" or "a reduced pace" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "smaller" to describe pace, as it implies size rather than speed. Choose adjectives like "slower" or "reduced" to accurately convey a decrease in speed or progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a smaller pace" functions as a noun phrase, where "smaller" modifies "pace". However, as Ludwig AI points out, this usage is not grammatically correct, as "pace" typically refers to speed rather than size. A more suitable construction would use "slower" or "reduced" as modifiers.

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, while the phrase "a smaller pace" might seem intuitively understandable, Ludwig AI analysis shows it's not grammatically correct in standard English. The adjective "smaller" implies size, which doesn't align with the concept of pace, which refers to speed or rate. It appears infrequently in both news and scientific sources. For clarity and correctness, it's best to use alternatives like "a slower pace" or "a reduced pace" to accurately describe a decrease in speed or progress. Choosing more precise language will enhance the clarity and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slower pace

Replaces "smaller" with "slower", focusing on the reduction in speed rather than size. This alternative is a more grammatically sound way to express a reduction in speed or progress.

a reduced pace

Uses "reduced" to indicate a decrease in the rate or speed, emphasizing the action of reducing the pace.

a more gradual pace

Emphasizes the gentleness or smoothness of the reduced speed, suggesting a less abrupt change.

a less rapid pace

Replaces "smaller" with "less rapid", maintaining a formal tone to describe reduced speed.

a diminished pace

Suggests a weakening or lessening of the pace, implying a gradual decline in speed or progress.

a decelerated pace

Focuses on the action of slowing down, implying a decrease in acceleration.

a leisurely pace

Conveys a relaxed and unhurried speed, suitable for situations where speed is not a priority.

a conservative pace

Suggests a cautious or restrained speed, often used in strategic or planning contexts.

a moderate pace

Indicates a balanced and controlled speed, neither too fast nor too slow.

a sedate pace

Implies a calm and dignified speed, often used to describe movement or progress in a composed manner.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct alternative to "a smaller pace"?

The phrase "a smaller pace" is not grammatically sound. Use "a slower pace" or "a reduced pace" instead to accurately describe a decrease in speed or rate.

In what contexts can I use "a slower pace" instead of "a smaller pace"?

You can use "a slower pace" in contexts where you want to describe a reduction in the rate of progress, speed, or activity. For example, "The project is proceeding at a slower pace than initially planned."

Is "a smaller pace" ever considered acceptable in informal writing?

While you might encounter "a smaller pace" in some informal contexts, it's generally better to opt for more grammatically correct alternatives like "a slower pace" or "a reduced pace" to maintain clarity and precision.

What is the difference between "a slower pace" and "a reduced pace"?

"A slower pace" generally refers to the speed of movement or progress, while "a reduced pace" emphasizes the action of decreasing the rate. The choice depends on whether you want to focus on the speed itself or the act of reducing it.