fractionally larger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fractionally larger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two quantities, indicating that one is slightly greater than the other. Example: "The new model is fractionally larger than the previous version, providing more storage space."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Baxter's hand is large, Henry's fractionally larger, but neither man attempts a show of strength.

The New Yorker

The coins, which incorporate emblems from all four of the UK's home nations, will be harder to fake, weigh slightly less than the current ones, and have a fractionally larger diameter while being slightly thinner.

The Guardian - Money

BMW addressed the size challenge with manufacturing technology developed for the S1000 RR superbike, resulting in an engine that is just "fractionally larger than our existing 1300 cc 4-cylinder," Mr. De Waal said.

The New York Times

Although various readers perceived the body type as smaller, the ink less intense and the paper itself perhaps different, I am assured that the font size of the body type is fractionally larger and the ink and paper are the same.

The Guardian - Opinion

I mean, it really does look bigger even though the actual physical size is only fractionally larger.

Forbes

It's also a follow on to last year's One Mini — but has a fractionally larger, 4.5 inch display.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

She noticed that several of his letters mentioned that he was trying to change his writing and asked if we had noticed any change; eventually we found that if we sighted along each line of script an occasional letter was fractionally higher than the others and these larger letters formed the messages.

BBC

If the only way for that to happen is to recruit large swathes of the Hispanic and fractionally Asian population into whiteness, then surely it will happen.

The New York Times

That Mr Clegg has apparently broken from this fundamental part of his party's identity confirms what many have long suspected: the Lib Dem leader would much prefer to do another deal with the Conservatives, who are probably still fractionally more likely than Labour to be the largest party.

The Economist

In the larger scenario, power control is employed in both UL and DL such that, with the fractionally power controlled power being (11).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

A fractal (or a fractionally dimensioned object; Mandelbrot, 1983) contains a pattern that repeats at many different scales, from small to large and vice versa.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fractionally larger" to describe differences that are small but potentially relevant, such as in technical specifications or comparative analyses.

Common error

Avoid using "fractionally larger" when the size difference is significant. Choose a more appropriate descriptor to accurately reflect the magnitude of the difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fractionally larger" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it is slightly bigger than something else. Ludwig AI examples show it appears in comparisons.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

14%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fractionally larger" is a descriptive adjective phrase used to indicate that something is slightly bigger than something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, where precise comparisons are often needed. While not overly formal, it conveys a sense of accuracy, making it suitable for professional communication as well. To avoid overstating the size difference, use it only when the difference is indeed minimal. Some great alternatives include "slightly bigger", "marginally greater", and "a tad larger".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly bigger

Replaces "fractionally" with "slightly", indicating a minor increase in size.

marginally greater

Uses "marginally" to convey a small degree of difference.

a tad larger

Employs the informal term "a tad" to suggest a slight increase.

a bit bigger

Similar to "a tad larger" but uses "bit" for informality.

somewhat larger

Utilizes "somewhat" to indicate a modest increase in size.

barely larger

Highlights that the increase in size is minimal and almost imperceptible.

minutely larger

Uses "minutely" to emphasize the extremely small difference in size.

incomparably larger

A phrase to indicate a larger size without establishing a comparison with another object.

negligibly larger

Indicates the difference in size is so small it's almost insignificant.

scarcely larger

Expresses that the size difference is hardly noticeable.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "fractionally larger"?

Use "fractionally larger" when you want to indicate that something is slightly bigger than something else. It implies a small, but potentially important, difference in size.

What are some alternatives to "fractionally larger"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly bigger", "marginally greater", or "a tad larger" depending on the context and the degree of formality you want to convey.

Is "fractionally larger" formal or informal?

"Fractionally larger" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for both professional and academic writing.

How does "fractionally larger" compare to "slightly larger"?

Both "fractionally larger" and "slightly larger" indicate a small difference in size. "Fractionally larger" may imply a more precise or quantifiable difference, whereas "slightly larger" is a more general term.