a smaller rate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a smaller rate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing rates, such as interest rates, prices, or speeds, indicating that one rate is less than another. Example: "The new plan offers a smaller rate for monthly subscriptions compared to the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

A smaller rate reduction posed a risk of moving too slowly if the economy was indeed in danger of stalling.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, British children grew at a smaller rate than before during the industrial revolution, bringing the average height more into line with the country's European cousins.

The Guardian

At 25 °C, 42% of buried residue-15N was released over 210 days, at a smaller rate than 18°C49(49%) over 81 days.

European Journal of Agronomy

ScottishPower P.L.C., the owner of Pacificorp, will have to return $22 million to customers in Utah after state regulators granted the company a smaller rate increase than first announced seven months ago.

The New York Times

Senator Bob Packwood, the bill's floor manager, said the Senate bill had such a low maximum tax rate -27 percenthatthat a smaller rate for capital gains was not necessary.

The New York Times

A court in Maine recently upheld a smaller rate increase for that state's largest insurer — 10.9 percent instead of 18.1 percent — that had been ordered by the insurance superintendent.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

The advertising will be impacted if we deliver a smaller rating than we promised.

The New York Times - Sports

The idea was raised that the scale had too many options and a smaller rating system would have been preferred.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

A small rate increase would be a victory for savers.

The Economist

"The current low rate means that many who are just able to meet their repayments now will soon be swamped by even a small rate rise.

The Guardian - Money

Cosmic expansion is happening on a microscopic level, as you surmise, but at such a small rate that you would never notice it.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing changes over time, clearly state the initial rate and the new, "smaller rate" to provide context and show the extent of the change. For example, "The inflation rate decreased from 5% to a smaller rate of 2%."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a smaller rate" is solely responsible for an observed outcome. For instance, concluding that "a smaller rate" of unemployment directly caused a rise in consumer spending overlooks other influencing factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a smaller rate" functions as a comparative qualifier, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and consistently employed in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a smaller rate" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a reduction or decrease in a particular metric. Ludwig AI identifies its prevalence in scientific, news, and business contexts, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. When using this phrase, ensure you are comparing it to a previous rate or providing context to understand the extent of the change. While "a smaller rate" is often interchangeable with "a lower rate" or "a reduced rate", consider the subtle differences in emphasis to best convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a diminished pace

Replaces "rate" with "pace", emphasizing the speed or tempo of something decreasing.

a lessened degree

Substitutes "rate" with "degree", highlighting the extent or intensity of something being reduced.

a reduced level

Uses "level" instead of "rate", focusing on a quantitative measure that is lowered.

a slower tempo

Emphasizes the change in speed by using "slower" and replacing "rate" with "tempo".

a curtailed frequency

Replaces "smaller" with "curtailed" and "rate" with "frequency", stressing that something happens less often.

a lower incidence

Substitutes "rate" with "incidence", referring to how often something occurs, now at a reduced level.

a moderated velocity

Uses "moderated" instead of "smaller" and "velocity" in place of "rate", indicating a decrease in speed.

a declined proportion

Replaces "rate" with "proportion", focusing on a relative amount that has decreased.

a tapered intensity

Emphasizes a gradual reduction using "tapered" instead of "smaller" and "intensity" instead of "rate".

a mitigated ratio

Replaces "smaller" with "mitigated" and "rate" with "ratio", suggesting a less severe relationship between two quantities.

FAQs

How can I use "a smaller rate" in a sentence?

You can use "a smaller rate" to compare a current or future rate to a previous one. For example, "The company is aiming for "a smaller rate" of employee turnover next year."

What's a more formal alternative to "a smaller rate"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "a reduced rate" or "a lower rate". For example, "The government announced "a reduced rate" of taxation for small businesses."

Is it always better to have "a smaller rate"?

Not necessarily. While "a smaller rate" can be desirable in some contexts (e.g., interest rates), it may be undesirable in others (e.g., economic growth). The desirability depends on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a smaller rate" or "a lower rate"?

Both "a smaller rate" and "a lower rate" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Smaller" emphasizes the relative size, while "lower" focuses on the absolute value.