far too small

USAGE SUMMARY

"far too small" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something (usually a size, quantity, or degree) is much smaller than expected or desired. For example: "The amount of money he was paid for the job was far too small."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The explosion was far too small.

The New York Times - Science

Indeed, it was far too small.

The Guardian

The effect is far, far, FAR too small.

Cornell University

The ellipticity is far too small for it to be fittable!

Harvard University

We can't really rely on using the post office, as it is far too small.

Independent

In Scutellosaurus, however, the scutes were far too small to serve these functions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The experiments would be far too small to have any climatic effects.

The Economist

The rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), is far too small to be credible.

The Economist

He discovered something that is quite easy to understand, though far too small to see.

The Economist

Far too small to bring the ship back to its previous path.

The Economist

It feels horribly contained within this space, which is far too small for it.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far too small" to express a significant deficiency or inadequacy in size, quantity, or scope, ensuring the context clearly indicates what the standard or expectation is.

Common error

While "far too small" is widely understood, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing. Consider using more precise or sophisticated alternatives such as "significantly undersized" or "woefully insufficient" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too small" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by emphasizing that something is significantly smaller than it should be. Ludwig examples show its versatility in describing physical size, quantities, and abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Academia

21%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far too small" is a common and correct phrase used to express that something is significantly less than needed or expected. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and versatile. While ubiquitous, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "significantly undersized" or "woefully insufficient" in formal writing. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Science sources. Remember to use "far too small" when you want to emphasize a deficiency in size, quantity, or scope. Be mindful of overuse in formal contexts, and consider varied phrasing for enhanced clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly undersized

Replaces "small" with "undersized" and emphasizes the significant difference using "significantly" instead of "far too".

considerably too little

Substitutes "small" with "little" and "far too" with "considerably too" altering the intensity of the statement.

vastly inadequate

Replaces the entire phrase with a stronger term, "inadequate", emphasizing a deficiency with "vastly".

woefully insufficient

Uses "woefully insufficient" to denote a severe lack, changing the tone to a more regretful one.

remarkably diminutive

Replaces "small" with "diminutive" and emphasizes the contrast through "remarkably".

noticeably insufficient

Highlights the lack of something being apparent, replacing "far too" with "noticeably".

substantially smaller

Focuses on the comparative aspect of size, replacing "far too" with "substantially".

much too limited

Shifts the focus to limitation rather than size, using "much too" to express a similar sentiment.

extremely restricted

Indicates constraints making the item very limited or restricted

pathetically meager

Emphasizes the poor quality and insufficient amount of the item.

FAQs

How can I use "far too small" in a sentence?

You can use "far too small" to describe something that is significantly less than what is needed or expected. For example: "The budget allocated for the project was "far too small" to cover all the necessary expenses."

What are some alternatives to saying "far too small"?

Alternatives include "significantly undersized", "vastly inadequate", or "woefully insufficient", depending on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "too far small" instead of "far too small"?

No, the correct phrasing is "far too small". The phrase "too far small" is grammatically incorrect and not idiomatic in English.

What's the difference between "far too small" and "slightly small"?

"Far too small" indicates a significant and noticeable deficiency in size or quantity. In contrast, "slightly small" suggests only a minor or marginal difference. The former implies a more critical issue than the latter.