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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
be very small if
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "be very small if" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be used in a conditional context, but it requires additional information to convey a complete thought. Example: "The object will be very small if it is made from lightweight materials."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Wiki
Alternative expressions(4)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
8 human-written examples
The total force T − T′ on the string must be very small if the cut piece is not to accelerate violently, and, if the mass of the string is neglected altogether, T and T′ must be equal.
Encyclopedias
A specific application is in anaerobic digestion, where the stability region can be very small if the operating steady state is selected to maximize the methane production rate.
Science
These p values can, however, be very small if in a very large RCT there is a small but clinically insignificant difference between two treatments.
After the court had heard the testimony of these 13 experts from 5 different countries it decided to discontinue the case since the guilt of the accused was deemed to be very small, if there was any guilt at all and that further technical investigations and expert testimony would most probably bring the court no nearer to a conviction.
Science
However, e k,m can be very small if κ is larger than a certain value which can be determined by an upper bound of |μ j,q |, namely B |μ|. B |μ| is given by begin{array}{*{20}l} B_{|mu|} = frac{2}{Nleft|1-expleft(frac{-jomega_{k}dkappa(theta)}{c}right)right|} end{array} (21).
If the matching is exact only on the coarsened values and/or is time varying, then the confounder should be included in the regression to control for the within-bin correlation which most likely will be very small if the bin width (ε j ) is tightly defined.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
52 human-written examples
Trading at the London Financial Futures Exchange, Liffe, was about 1000 contracts in the first 15 minutes since the market opened at 1am. "It's very small, if something big had happened, there would be 15,000 contracts traded," Amey said.
News & Media
This occurs because the communication cost between two components is very small if they are deployed to the same server.
Note that the number of required iterations is very small if we consider the per protocol phase transmit power constraint.
The effect of the particle size ratio on breakdown of energy equipartition is very small if the two particle species have the same mass.
Science
However, the additional energy requirements are limited to UWB backscattering communication epochs and the related consumptions are very small if compared to those of the UHF band.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using conditional statements about size, ensure that the condition is clearly linked to the resulting smallness. For clarity, specify what factors contribute to making something "very small".
Common error
Avoid using "be very small if" without explicitly stating the condition that leads to the small size. Without a clear condition, the statement lacks context and may confuse readers.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
3.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "be very small if" functions as a conditional statement, suggesting a state of reduced size contingent on a specific condition. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase lacks clarity and requires additional information.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
20%
Encyclopedias
10%
Less common in
Wiki
10%
Formal & Business
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "be very small if" expresses a conditional relationship where the size or magnitude of something is dependent on a specific condition. While understandable, it is not considered grammatically strong and Ludwig AI suggests that it lacks clarity and requires additional context for better comprehension. For enhanced clarity, consider alternatives such as "be exceptionally tiny when" or "be substantially reduced given". The phrase is most frequently used in scientific and news contexts. Always ensure the conditional relationship is clearly defined to avoid vagueness.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
be exceptionally tiny when
The phrase replaces "very small" with "exceptionally tiny" and "if" with "when", modifying the degree and condition.
be exceedingly minute should
This alternative intensifies the degree of smallness and introduces a different conditional conjunction.
be almost nonexistent provided that
The phrase intensifies the smallness to almost nonexistent, and "provided that" replaces "if" to offer a stricter condition.
become hardly noticeable when
This alternative focuses on the degree of noticeability, using "when" instead of "if" to indicate the condition.
be considerably diminished provided
The terms "considerably diminished" replace "very small", and "provided" substitutes for "if", changing the focus and condition.
remain quite negligible should
Here, "remain quite negligible" replaces "be very small", and "should" is used instead of "if" to express a different conditional.
be substantially reduced given
This alternative focuses on reduction rather than size, using "given" instead of "if" to indicate the condition.
turn out minimal as long as
The phrase replaces "be very small" with "turn out minimal" and "if" with "as long as", altering the phrasing and condition.
prove quite insignificant assuming
This alternative shifts from size to significance, using "assuming" in place of "if" to set the condition.
demonstrate minimal impact given that
This shifts the focus from size to impact, using "given that" instead of "if" to specify the condition.
FAQs
How can I rephrase "be very small if" for better clarity?
Consider alternatives like "be exceptionally tiny when", "be substantially reduced given", or "prove quite insignificant assuming" to enhance clarity and provide context.
What is the difference between "be very small if" and "be insignificant when"?
While both express a conditional relationship, "be insignificant when" shifts the focus from size to impact or importance under a specific circumstance. "Be very small if" focuses specifically on physical size under a specific condition.
Is it grammatically correct to say, "be very small if"?
While understandable, "be very small if" is not considered grammatically strong. It requires completion to fully convey the intended meaning. Rephrasing with stronger conjunctions or different wording improves correctness.
How to use "be very small if" in a sentence?
For example, "The risk will be very small if the safety protocols are strictly followed." Ensure the 'if' clause specifies the condition leading to the smallness. Consider replacing it with a more explicit phrasing for enhanced clarity.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
3.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested