is comparatively small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'is comparatively small' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare one thing with another thing with regards to size, especially when the difference is not extreme. For example: "Although the village is small, it is comparatively small when compared to the nearby city."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We agree that the management of adverse event costs is comparatively small compared with that of acquisition costs.

British Journal of Cancer

The range of Dallia when compared to other Holarctic fishes is comparatively small.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The photodissolution is comparatively small.

Electrochimica Acta

Other than providing compensation, the State's role is comparatively small.

Cornell University

The old "heartland" is comparatively small now, and deeply disadvantaged, not only economically but politically, too.

The Guardian - Opinion

The L-shaped reading room, on the second floor, is comparatively small.

The New York Times - Travel

Twitter is a social newswires for journalists and political junkies, but its reach is comparatively small.

The Washington Post

The Branagh version, opening today at the Paris Theater, is comparatively small.

The New York Times

The Thomson effect is comparatively small, and so it is generally neglected.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The detector heat load at 0.1 K is comparatively small at 1 2 μW.

Cryogenics

At the same time, the Los Angeles department is comparatively small, about one-third the size of New York's.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is comparatively small", ensure you have a clear point of reference for the comparison. Make sure it's clear what you are comparing the subject to.

Common error

Avoid using "is comparatively small" without specifying what the subject is being compared to. This can lead to confusion and weaken your statement. Provide a clear reference point for the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is comparatively small" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating its size relative to something else. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts to provide a sense of scale.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is comparatively small" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate that something is smaller than average or expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts such as science, news, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, remember to provide a clear reference point for the comparison to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "is relatively small" or "is somewhat small" can be used to subtly adjust the nuance. Remember that using "is comparatively small" correctly enhances clarity and provides essential context to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is relatively small

Replaces "comparatively" with "relatively", indicating a smallness relative to something else, but with a slightly less direct comparison.

is somewhat small

Uses "somewhat" to soften the statement, suggesting the smallness is moderate.

is rather small

Employs "rather" to indicate a noticeable degree of smallness.

is fairly small

Substitutes "comparatively" with "fairly", suggesting a reasonable degree of smallness.

is moderately small

Indicates the size is small in a moderate sense.

is significantly smaller

Highlights a more substantial difference in size.

is notably smaller

Emphasizes the smallness as being worthy of attention.

is not very large

Expresses smallness by negating largeness.

is of a smaller scale

Shifts the focus to the scale or extent of something.

is on the smaller side

Indicates it belongs to the smaller end of a spectrum.

FAQs

How can I use "is comparatively small" in a sentence?

Use "is comparatively small" to indicate that something's size is less than what is expected or considered average, such as, "The town's population "is comparatively small" when contrasted with the capital city".

What are some alternatives to saying "is comparatively small"?

You can use alternatives like "is relatively small", "is somewhat small", or "is rather small" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is comparatively small" or "is significantly smaller"?

The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to emphasize. "Is comparatively small" suggests a modest difference, while "is significantly smaller" indicates a more substantial and noticeable difference.

What's the difference between "is comparatively small" and "is relatively insignificant"?

"Is comparatively small" refers specifically to size or quantity, while "is relatively insignificant" implies that something has little importance or impact. Therefore, they are not interchangeable.