markedly smaller than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "markedly smaller than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the size of one object or entity to another, indicating a significant difference in size. Example: "The new model is markedly smaller than its predecessor, making it easier to handle."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

His son smiled and held up his hands, which looked markedly smaller than his father's, which resemble baseball mitts.

The New York Times - Food

Cassandro was markedly smaller than all of his students except one, and his rolls were smoother and quicker.

The New Yorker

The government insists there is no comparison: unlike Cyprus's outsized banks, Latvia's are markedly smaller than average.V for ValdisStill Latvia must act cautiously.

The Economist

It was also investigated that more number of PEO spherulites in CSSQ PEO were observed, which sizes are markedly smaller than the spherulites developed in linear PEO.

Polymer

This value is markedly smaller than the most compact nucleic acid or modified nucleic acid in the database (modified DNA aptamer for NGF, 0.490 Å−1 25) and it is 21% smaller than the mean value for all calculated nucleic acids (0.544 Å−1) (Supplementary Fig. 3).

Nature

Oxide caps were found on the surface of particles burning in all the environments; however the size of the oxide caps detected on the particles quenched in the Ar/O2 and He/O2 mixtures was markedly smaller than that found in the N2/O2 gas mixtures.

Combustion and Flame

In contrast, for the case of 140 Ω m, the phase values at Site 5 and Site 6 in TE mode are markedly smaller than the observed values in the frequency range between 500 and 5,000 Hz.

Earth, Planets and Space

Your start-up package is probably markedly smaller than it would have been at a typical R1 university, and your lab space and facilities will be modest by research institution standards.

Science Magazine

The sandstone blocks in the upper structure of the central part of the Western Annex Hall (N2) are markedly smaller than those in the eastern and western parts of this Western Annex Hall (N2), as well as all other buildings in the monument.

Heritage Science

While plot-level tree diversity was not markedly lower than in central or western Amazonian várzea and igapó forests, mean stand-level basal area (19.4 m2∙hand) abovegroundound biomass (117 Mg∙ha–1) were markedly smaller than in other Neotropical floodplains, including the cerrado floodplains in Pantanal (biomass: 136 260 Mg∙ha–1; Schöngart et al. 2011).

Forest Ecosystems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I visited on Saturday, there weren't too many people at the camp - only 100 or so, which is a markedly smaller number than a few years ago.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "markedly smaller than", ensure the difference you are describing is significant and easily noticeable, rather than marginal.

Common error

Avoid using "markedly smaller than" when the size difference is subtle or negligible; instead, opt for a more appropriate term like "slightly smaller than" or "somewhat smaller than."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "markedly smaller than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something as being significantly reduced in size relative to something else. Ludwig examples show its frequent use in scientific and general contexts, supporting its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "markedly smaller than" is a grammatically correct and frequently used comparative phrase used to describe a significant difference in size. It's versatile enough to be used in various contexts, particularly in science and news media, while maintaining a neutral tone. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is effective when emphasizing a notable size difference, but care should be taken to avoid overstating the case when the difference is only slight. Using alternatives such as "significantly smaller than" or "considerably smaller than" may suit the desired nuance better, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly less than

Emphasizes the comparative degree using "significantly" instead of "markedly."

considerably tinier than

Uses "tinier" for size and "considerably" to indicate a notable difference.

noticeably slighter than

Employs "slighter" implying a small difference and "noticeably" to emphasize it's easily observed.

appreciably reduced compared to

Replaces direct comparison with "reduced compared to" using "appreciably" for emphasis.

substantially dwarfed by

Uses "dwarfed by" to imply a large size difference, replacing "smaller than".

distinctly more compact than

Focuses on compactness rather than general size, using "distinctly" for clarity.

remarkably more petite than

Employs "petite" to describe a delicate smallness, and "remarkably" to highlight the difference.

palpably more miniature than

Indicates something is miniature and easily perceptible ("palpably") compared to something else.

appreciably more diminutive than

Uses "diminutive" to emphasize small size, replacing "smaller", and "appreciably" to highlight the difference.

measurably more trivial than

Emphasizes the smallness to such a point that it is nearly insignificant by replacing "smaller" with "trivial" and using "measurably" to refer to something able to be quantified.

FAQs

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

You can use "markedly smaller than" to emphasize a significant size difference between two items. For example, "The new phone is markedly smaller than the previous model."

What are some alternatives to saying "markedly smaller than"?

Alternatives include "significantly smaller than", "considerably smaller than", or "noticeably smaller than". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "markedly less than" instead of "markedly smaller than"?

While grammatically correct, "markedly less than" is used for quantities or amounts, not size. Use "markedly smaller than" when referring to physical dimensions. Otherwise, use "markedly less than" for non-physical quantities.

What's the difference between "slightly smaller than" and "markedly smaller than"?

"Slightly smaller than" indicates a minor difference, while "markedly smaller than" suggests a substantial and easily observable difference in size. The choice depends on the degree of difference you want to emphasize.