as it gets smaller

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it gets smaller" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a process or phenomenon that changes in size or magnitude, particularly in a comparative context. Example: "The shadow lengthens as it gets smaller during the sunset."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The reason I keep it is because my dad gave it to me, and said: 'My dad gave this to me.'" These things, by virtue of having lasted as long as they have, were evidently built to last, and Camisotti has seen the longevity of technology decrease as it gets smaller and smaller.

Independent

As it gets smaller, the shape becomes harder and harder to manufacture precisely, yielding imperfections that can negatively affect ion motion.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It takes the maximum value if a = b = 1/2 (the case of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) and it gets smaller as the difference between a and b becomes larger.

BMC Genomics

As solid state memory technology advances, it gets smaller and smaller.

TechCrunch

Discussing her take on the song "Rose's Turn," he said: "The dynamic of Patti's performance is that it starts off big, then it gets small as she talks about her children and what they've done to her.

The New York Times

It got smaller, as it always does, after Brandon reviewed X-rays and gave each prospect a look.

The New York Times - Sports

Tino Balio, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on the American film industry, says that the German market was much smaller than that of Great Britain, and that it got smaller still as the decade went on.

The New Yorker

Another patient had an HIV-related lesion on the roof of his mouth and as he received 714-X injections it got smaller.

Vice

And as local residents drive to bigger airports with lower fares, or forgo flying as it gets more expensive, small airports feel the pinch even more.

The New York Times

By this he means a company that "remains small even as it gets big", treating its workers as individuals.

The Economist

Frank Conroy, "Stop-Time" "As I crawl over those rocks, I keep repeating, in a kind of zestful, copious and deeply gratifying incantation, the English word 'childhood,' which sounds mysterious and new, and becomes stranger and stranger as it gets mixed up in my small, overstocked, hectic mind, with Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood, and the brown hoods of old hunchbacked fairies".

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it gets smaller" to describe a proportional or conditional change where one thing influences another due to a reduction in size. For example, "As the company gets smaller, it becomes more agile."

Common error

Avoid using "as it gets smaller" when describing something that simply becomes less without a corresponding effect or relationship. Instead of saying "As the stack of papers gets smaller, it disappears", which doesn't make sense, consider "As the stack of papers gets smaller, it becomes easier to manage."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it gets smaller" functions as an adverbial clause of condition, indicating that something happens or changes in relation to the size decreasing. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as it gets smaller" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to illustrate a proportional or conditional relationship where a reduction in size leads to a corresponding effect. Ludwig confirms that it functions as an adverbial clause of condition, commonly found in news media and scientific contexts. While suitable for various registers, it's crucial to use it accurately to describe true proportional relationships and avoid illogical connections. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "as its size diminishes". Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for expressing nuanced relationships, provided it's used with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as its size diminishes

Replaces "gets smaller" with "size diminishes", focusing on the reduction in size.

as its dimensions decrease

Substitutes "gets smaller" with "dimensions decrease", emphasizing the reduction in measurable dimensions.

when the size contracts

Uses "when" to introduce the condition and "size contracts" to describe the reduction.

while it shrinks

Replaces "as it gets smaller" with "while it shrinks", focusing on the process of shrinking.

as its magnitude lessens

Uses "magnitude lessens" instead of "gets smaller", focusing on the decrease in overall magnitude or importance.

with decreasing size

Changes the structure to focus on "decreasing size" as the condition.

as it reduces in scale

Substitutes "gets smaller" with "reduces in scale", emphasizing a proportional reduction.

as its volume declines

Focuses specifically on the decline in volume rather than general size.

upon miniaturization

Uses a more technical term, "miniaturization", to denote the process of becoming smaller.

when downsized

Uses a single word, "downsized", to imply the condition of becoming smaller.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "as it gets smaller" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "as its size diminishes" or "as its dimensions decrease", which offer a more sophisticated vocabulary.

What does "as it gets smaller" imply in a scientific context?

In a scientific context, "as it gets smaller" often describes how a change in size affects other properties or behaviors. For example, "As a particle gets smaller, its surface area to volume ratio increases."

Is there a difference between "as it gets smaller" and "when it gets smaller"?

While both phrases describe a condition related to size reduction, "as it gets smaller" suggests a gradual change and concurrent effect, while "when it gets smaller" implies a more specific point in time or condition after the size has changed.

Can "as it gets smaller" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "as it gets smaller" can be used metaphorically to describe the lessening of influence, importance, or scope. For example, "As the company's market share gets smaller, its influence on the industry wanes."