fractionally too wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fractionally too wide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is slightly wider than desired or acceptable, often in contexts like design, measurements, or fitting. Example: "The new table is fractionally too wide for the dining room, making it difficult to move around."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But they stayed "fractionally too late," he said.

The New York Times

Too wide?

The Washington Post

Gayle subsequently connected with DeAndre Yedlin's cross only to shoot fractionally too high.

The Guardian - Sport

It is fractionally too long, but is deftly scored and was attractively played.

The Guardian - Music

He caught the ball just as it bounced out of the goal area, fractionally too late to touch down.

The New York Times - Sports

Qualifies for England fractionally too late to make this summer's Australian tour but will be available to the Jones this autumn.

The Guardian - Sport

The ice is too wide.

The New Yorker

But it was fractionally too high and, therefore, so was the striker's header from 10 yards.

The Guardian - Sport

The fennel seeds are arguably a little too numerous, giving fractionally too lip-tingling a tang to the dish, but this is a minor note.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There was another sweetly struck long ball for Young with the outside of Gerrard's right foot that was fractionally too long.

Independent

It's too wide.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing spatial dimensions or tolerances, use "fractionally too wide" to convey that the width exceeds the desired measurement by a small, almost negligible amount. For example, "The component was rejected because it was "fractionally too wide" to fit within the assembly."

Common error

Avoid using "fractionally too wide" when the width difference is significant. This phrase implies a minor deviation, so choose a more appropriate description if the width is considerably larger than expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fractionally too wide" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an adjective. It specifies the degree to which something exceeds the desired width. Based on Ludwig, this phrase is used to indicate a slight excess.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fractionally too wide" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe something that exceeds the ideal width by a very small amount. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While examples are scarce, it appears in News & Media and general contexts. Alternatives include "slightly too wide" or "a bit too wide". When using this phrase, ensure the difference is indeed minimal to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly too wide

Replaces "fractionally" with "slightly", indicating a minor degree of excess width.

marginally too wide

Replaces "fractionally" with "marginally", indicating a slight difference in width.

a tad too wide

Substitutes "fractionally" with "a tad", conveying a more informal tone for a small excess in width.

just a bit too wide

Uses "just a bit" instead of "fractionally", emphasizing a minimal amount of extra width.

a little too wide

Employs "a little" instead of "fractionally", suggesting a small degree of excessive width.

ever so slightly too wide

Adds "ever so slightly" for emphasis, underscoring the minimal excess in width.

minutely too wide

Uses "minutely" to indicate an extremely small excess in width.

scarcely too wide

Substitutes "fractionally" with "scarcely", indicating that the width is barely excessive.

barely too wide

Replaces "fractionally" with "barely", suggesting a minimal amount of extra width that is almost acceptable.

almost too wide

Indicates that the width approaches the limit of being excessive, but does not necessarily exceed it by much.

FAQs

How can I use "fractionally too wide" in a sentence?

You can use "fractionally too wide" to describe something that exceeds the ideal width by a very small amount. For instance, "The shelf was "fractionally too wide" to fit into the alcove."

What's a more informal way to say "fractionally too wide"?

For a less formal tone, consider using alternatives like "slightly too wide" or "a bit too wide".

Is "fractionally too wide" appropriate for describing large discrepancies?

No, "fractionally too wide" is best suited for small, almost imperceptible differences. For larger discrepancies, use phrases like "significantly too wide" or "much too wide".

What's the difference between "fractionally too wide" and "slightly too wide"?

"Fractionally too wide" implies a smaller degree of excess than "slightly too wide". While both indicate a minor deviation, "fractionally" suggests an even more negligible difference.