drastically smaller than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drastically smaller than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing the size of two or more items, indicating a significant difference in size. Example: "The new model is drastically smaller than its predecessor, making it easier to transport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But Lucent is drastically smaller than when the company had annual revenues exceeding $30 billion in the late 1990's.

The New York Times

The number of buses needed to transport school children, the distribution of potassium iodide pills and so forth -- would be drastically smaller than in a 10-mile evacuation.

The New York Times

A key reason for the terrible financial results is that fracked oil wells show a steep decline rate: The amount of oil they produce in the second year is drastically smaller than the amount produced in the first year.

The New York Times

The slimmer bezels allows the 2018 model of the 12.9-inch iPad to be drastically smaller than older 12.9-inch model Pros.

Forbes

But as you can see from the main photo above, the bezels are drastically smaller than previous iPads, which to be honest had begun to look outdated as early as 2015.

Forbes

No matter how compelling your piece in the Halifax Daily News may have been, the same number of people would glance at your headline as at the others in that issue, and that number would be drastically smaller than that of any article, no matter how buried, in The New York Times.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Like chunky space, string theory averts gravitational catastrophe by introducing a finite, smallest scale to the universe, although the unit strings are drastically smaller even than the spatial structures Hogan is trying to find.

The Guardian

Compressed sensing is a novel theory [11, 12] that exploits sparsity to recover signals that have been sampled at a drastically smaller rate than the conventional Shannon/Nyquist theorem imposes.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

I also found out that luxury is quite alive, although drastically smaller and more incestuous than ever.

Huffington Post

Later this year, both Samsung and Apple will release phones with drastically smaller bodies (while keeping the same screen size, or even expanding it) than last year's models, and mainstream consumers will go gaga.

Forbes

Donizetti's tenor parts — requiring a different physical technique, lighter than the sound we are used to and benefiting from what were often drastically smaller opera houses — were also tuned lower.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drastically smaller than" to highlight a significant and easily noticeable size difference between two subjects, ensuring the context supports this strong emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "drastically smaller than" when the size difference is minimal or not particularly significant. This can lead to exaggeration and weaken the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drastically smaller than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it is significantly less in size compared to another noun. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drastically smaller than" is a comparative adjective phrase used to emphasize a significant size difference between two subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's commonly found in news and media, scientific publications, and general writing, making it suitable for various contexts where highlighting a considerable size reduction is necessary. When using this phrase, ensure that the size difference is indeed substantial to avoid exaggeration. Alternatives such as "significantly smaller than", "considerably smaller than", or "much smaller than" can be used to adjust the level of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vastly smaller than

Replaces "drastically" with "vastly" to intensify the extent of the size disparity.

dramatically smaller than

Substitutes "drastically" with "dramatically", conveying a striking difference in size.

significantly smaller than

Replaces "drastically" with "significantly", reducing the level of emphasis on the size difference.

substantially smaller than

Replaces "drastically" with "substantially", maintaining a formal tone.

considerably smaller than

Substitutes "drastically" with "considerably", indicating a notable but perhaps less extreme difference.

markedly smaller than

Emphasizes that the difference is easily recognized and distinct.

much smaller than

Uses "much" to convey a large difference, simplifying the phrasing.

distinctly smaller than

Highlights that the difference is very clear and easily perceived.

noticeably smaller than

Indicates that the difference in size is easily observed.

appreciably smaller than

Suggests that the difference in size is meaningful or important.

FAQs

How can I use "drastically smaller than" in a sentence?

Use "drastically smaller than" to compare two items where one is significantly reduced in size compared to the other. For instance, "The new phone model is "drastically smaller than" its predecessor, making it easier to carry".

What are some alternatives to "drastically smaller than"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly smaller than", "considerably smaller than", or "much smaller than" depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "drastically smaller than" over just "smaller than"?

Use "drastically smaller than" when the size difference is not just a little, but a lot. The word "drastically" emphasizes that the difference is substantial and easily noticeable. Using just "smaller than" implies a less significant difference.

Is there a situation where "drastically smaller than" would be inappropriate?

Yes, using "drastically smaller than" would be inappropriate if the size difference is minimal or negligible. In such cases, using phrases like "slightly smaller than" or simply "smaller than" would be more accurate and avoid exaggeration.