a somewhat small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a somewhat small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is small to a certain degree, indicating a slight or moderate size. Example: "The room was a somewhat small space, but it was cozy and well-decorated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Demographics have shown that not only are FireFox users a somewhat small percentage of the internet, they actually are even smaller in terms of online spending, therefore blocking FireFox seems to have only minimal financial drawbacks, whereas ending resource theft has tremendous financial rewards for honest, hard-working website owners and developers.

The Guardian - Tech

The critical load obtained from the nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) exhibited a somewhat small value, approximately 9 and 7% smaller than those of the eigenvalue analysis and analytical equations, respectively.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

The binf2 pair has the shortest time span of 46 days and a somewhat small perpendicular baseline of B⊥ = 877 m, though the interferogram contains an anomalous effect, which is seen in a broad area extending latitudinally across the scene, to the south of the epicentral location, in spite of the planar trend surface removal (Fig. 5).

Earth, Planets and Space

Though this is a somewhat small word, its misuse has caused great misunderstanding among Christians.

Huffington Post

There's a somewhat small corporate culture in the university that the governing board is more likely to see, and against which the faculty may rail from time to time.

Huffington Post

In our real data examples, we observed a somewhat small specificity for the most common haplotype of TNFA and a small sensitivity for the rare MCP1 haplotypes (Figure 4).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Australia did the same thing on a somewhat smaller scale starting a year later.

The New York Times

Regulators eventually approved a somewhat smaller increase.

The New York Times

That might enable doctors to restrict defibrillators to a somewhat smaller group.

The New York Times

A somewhat smaller contingent from the Upper East Side is also expected to visit.

The New York Times

A somewhat smaller number, 53 percent, said they were pleased with his security policies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a somewhat small", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the degree of smallness you intend to convey. It's best suited for situations where the size is noticeably, but not extremely, small.

Common error

Avoid using "a somewhat small" when describing something that is significantly smaller than expected. In such cases, stronger terms like "considerably smaller" or "substantially smaller" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a somewhat small" functions as a qualifier, specifically an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that the noun it modifies possesses the quality of being small to a certain extent. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a somewhat small" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that serves to describe something as being smaller than average, but not excessively so. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable for use in written English.

Usage is particularly prevalent in contexts such as News & Media and Science, where descriptive accuracy is valued. When writing, it is key to ensure "a somewhat small" accurately conveys the intended degree of smallness and isn't used in instances where a stronger term is warranted. Consider related phrases like "a slightly diminutive" or "a moderately sized" to tailor your language for the greatest precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slightly diminutive

Replaces "small" with "diminutive" and "somewhat" with "slightly", emphasizing the reduced size.

a reasonably little

Substitutes "small" with "little" and "somewhat" with "reasonably", offering a more informal tone.

a moderately sized

Uses "moderately" instead of "somewhat" and "sized" as a neutral alternative to "small".

a marginally petite

Employs "petite" for a more refined synonym of "small" and "marginally" to replace "somewhat".

a fairly compact

Replaces "small" with "compact" and "somewhat" with "fairly", suggesting a smallness that is also well-proportioned.

a rather reduced

Changes "somewhat" to "rather" and "small" to "reduced", indicating a decrease in size.

a comparatively modest

Uses "modest" as a synonym for "small" and "comparatively" instead of "somewhat", implying a size relative to something else.

a relatively tiny

Substitutes "small" with "tiny" and "somewhat" with "relatively", indicating a greater degree of smallness.

a generally undersized

Replaces "small" with "undersized" and "somewhat" with "generally", suggesting something is smaller than the typical size.

a noticeably scant

Uses "scant" to mean "small" in quantity and "noticeably" instead of "somewhat", emphasizing the evident smallness.

FAQs

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

Use "a somewhat small" to describe something that is smaller than average, but not exceptionally so. For example, "The apartment had "a somewhat small" kitchen, but it was functional."

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

"A very small" indicates a higher degree of smallness compared to ""a somewhat small"". The former suggests a significant reduction in size, while the latter implies a moderate one.

Are there alternatives to "a somewhat small" that sound more formal?

Yes, you could use phrases like "a relatively small" or "a moderately sized" as more formal alternatives to "a somewhat small".

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "a somewhat small"?

It's inappropriate when describing something that is unexpectedly or unusually small. In those cases, you might choose "a surprisingly small" or "an unusually small".