as big as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as big as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare the size of two things. For example, "This elephant is twice as big as that dog."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They were as big as golf balls.

Independent

Could he be as big as Obama?

Independent

Tonight was as big as it gets".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's not as big as yours".

The New York Times

Another has "hands as big as shovels".

The New York Times - Books

Some seemed as big as battleships.

The New Yorker

"As big as planets".

The New York Times

As big as mobile?

The Guardian

Butterflies as big as hummingbirds, hummingbirds as big as hawks.

The New York Times - Books

As big as, say, France.

The Times

As big as the view.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing sizes, ensure the comparison is clear and relevant to your audience. For instance, saying something is "as big as" a familiar object helps readers grasp the scale.

Common error

Avoid using comparisons that are not universally understood. For example, instead of "as big as my house", which varies greatly, use "as big as a two-car garage" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as big as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that two things share a similar size or scale. Ludwig AI validates that the expression is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as big as" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to compare the size of two objects. As validated by Ludwig AI, it’s widely used across various contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific writing. When using "as big as", ensure your comparison is clear and relatable to your audience. Alternatives like "comparable in size to" or "as large as" can provide a slightly more formal tone. However, remember to avoid vague comparisons to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as large as

Uses "large" instead of "big", providing a slightly more formal synonym.

the same size as

Directly asserts that two items share identical dimensions.

comparable in size to

This alternative directly indicates a similarity in size, maintaining a formal tone.

as immense as

Replaces "big" with "immense", intensifying the sense of great size.

the size of

This option focuses on stating the equivalent size, removing the comparative "as".

matches the size of

Highlights the correspondence in size between two items.

on par with

Emphasizes being equal or equivalent, shifting focus from physical size to overall importance or scale.

of equal magnitude to

This alternative uses 'magnitude' to focus on importance or intensity, changing focus from size.

comparable in scale to

Shifts emphasis to the relative extent or scope rather than absolute size.

equivalent in dimensions to

Provides a technical alternative, suitable when referring to specific measurements.

FAQs

How can I use "as big as" in a sentence?

You can use "as big as" to compare the size of two objects, for example, "The elephant is "as big as" a car".

What are some alternatives to "as big as"?

Alternatives include "comparable in size to", "the size of", or "as large as", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "as big as" or "as large as"?

Both "as big as" and "as large as" are correct and can be used interchangeably, but "as large as" may sound slightly more formal.

What does it mean when something is described as being "as big as" something else?

It means that the item in question is being compared to something else to give a sense of its size or scale. For example, saying "the hailstone was "as big as" a golf ball" helps you understand the size of the hailstone.