a smallest number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a smallest number" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would be "the smallest number" when referring to a specific smallest number in a given context. Example: "In this set of numbers, the smallest number is 2."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thus, our goal is to find a smallest number of edge deletions that will make the CC graph a line graph.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A smaller number are working inside Syria.

The New York Times

A small number have adopted Christianity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A smaller number were fired against Belgium.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Three thousand is a small number.

The Guardian

Why such a small number?

The Guardian

But only a small number.

The New York Times

"A smaller number dispute that.

The New York Times - Arts

A smaller number were Hungarian.

The New York Times

A small number of families trickled away.

The New York Times

It is not a small number.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the absolute minimum, use the article "the" instead of "a" (e.g., "the smallest number"). This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a" before superlative adjectives like "smallest". The correct form is "the smallest" to indicate a specific minimum value, not just any small value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a smallest number" functions as a noun phrase where "smallest" modifies "number". However, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "the smallest number". The example available supports this correction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a smallest number" might appear intuitive, Ludwig AI analysis reveals it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "the smallest number", which is used to refer to the absolute minimum value within a given context. Though examples exist, the analysis points towards a need for careful article selection to ensure grammatical correctness. "The minimum number" and "the least number" are viable alternatives. Ensure to use "the smallest number" when referring to a specific minimum value to maintain clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the smallest number

Uses the definite article "the" to correctly specify a unique, minimum value.

the minimum number

Replaces "smallest" with "minimum", a synonym emphasizing the lowest quantity.

the least number

Employs "least" instead of "smallest", indicating the lowest quantity or amount.

the fewest number

Uses "fewest" to describe the smallest quantity when referring to countable items.

a minimal number

Uses "minimal" to describe a quantity that is as small as possible, though grammatically questionable.

the tiniest number

Emphasizes the extremely small size of the number.

a diminutive number

Highlights the insignificantly small size of the number.

a low number

Generalizes the idea of "smallest" to simply a quantity that is not large.

the bottom number

Refers to the smallest number in a sequence or range.

a reduced number

Suggests a quantity that has been made smaller, but not necessarily the smallest possible.

FAQs

How to correctly use "smallest number" in a sentence?

The correct way to use "smallest number" is with the definite article "the", as in "What is "the smallest number" in this set?". Using "a smallest number" is grammatically incorrect.

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "a smallest number"?

A grammatically correct alternative is ""the smallest number"". Other options include "the minimum number" or "the least number".

Is it ever correct to use "a smallest" before a noun?

No, it is generally not correct to use "a smallest" before a noun. The superlative adjective "smallest" requires the definite article "the" to denote a specific, unique minimum value.

What's the difference between "a small number" and "a smallest number"?

"A small number" refers to a quantity that is not large, while ""the smallest number"" refers to the absolute minimum value in a given context. "A smallest number" is grammatically incorrect.