millimeter across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "millimeter across" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the size or diameter of an object, particularly in scientific or technical contexts. Example: "The lens has a diameter of 5 millimeters across, making it suitable for compact devices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It was less than a millimeter across, perhaps the size of a large grain of sand.

The New York Times

So preservation that is good enough to record the impressions of scales on skin that are a few millimeter across, many not be fine enough to preserve tiny feather filaments that are a fraction of a millimeter across.

The Guardian

Just a millimeter across and practically immobile, the snail, Zospeum tholussum, makes its home in a hot, humid cave within the Lukina Jama-Trojama cave system.

The New York Times - Science

After that, he plans to build something like the battery-powered glucose meter used by diabetics, but on a disposable chip, employing flexible circuits printed with metal-infused ink and light-emitting diodes less than a millimeter across.

The New York Times - Health

The conductors are built up from individual strands less than a millimeter across.

Science Magazine

To build their macro-sized quantum processors, the Yale researchers evaporated aluminum onto a sapphire surface to create two conductive spots a third of a millimeter across.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

After gathering data on 738 melanoma patients and 1030 nonmelanoma patients, Tucker's team found that subjects with more than 100 small moles--2 to 5 millimeters across--had twice as high a risk of melanoma as did people with fewer moles.

Science Magazine

Bill McInnis, Reebok's managing director for advanced concepts, said the 1988 model cells measured 5 millimeters across; the 2008 model cells are 20 to 25 millimeters across.

The New York Times

It is no bigger than 0.0002 inches or 0.005 millimeters, across.

The New York Times

After a while, clear circular spots a few millimeters across had appeared in the agar, suggesting that something was munching away at the coccobacilli.

The New York Times - Magazine

The bigger vessels -- anything more than two or three millimeters across -- are tied off or sewn shut at two points and then cut in the middle.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dimensions in technical writing, use "millimeter across" or similar phrases to provide precise measurements for clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure you consistently use millimeters throughout your description, rather than switching between millimeters and other units of measurement which can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "millimeter across" functions as a descriptive adjective modifying a noun, specifying the size or diameter of an object. Ludwig shows it's used to quantify dimensions in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

35%

Science & Research

35%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "millimeter across" is used to precisely describe the size or diameter of an object, frequently found in scientific, technical, and news contexts. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, suggesting that it's a common way to quantify dimensions. While "millimeter in diameter" and "millimeter wide" serve as alternatives, the best choice depends on the context and the desired level of specificity. To maintain clarity in technical writing, consistency in unit usage is crucial. In short, "millimeter across" provides a clear and concise method for specifying small dimensions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

millimeter in diameter

This alternative specifies that the measurement refers to the diameter.

millimeter wide

This alternative emphasizes the width of the object.

having a millimeter dimension

This rephrasing focuses on the object possessing a specific size.

with a millimeter measurement

This highlights the existence of a measurement in millimeters.

measuring a millimeter

This emphasizes the act of measuring to find the size.

one millimeter in size

This specifies a concrete size of one millimeter.

at the millimeter scale

This alternative suggests the level of precision or detail being considered.

on the order of a millimeter

This expresses an approximate size close to a millimeter.

in millimeter increments

This indicates changes or variations happening in millimeter steps.

within a millimeter range

This specifies a small variation around a millimeter value.

FAQs

How do I use "millimeter across" in a sentence?

You can use "millimeter across" to describe the size or diameter of an object. For example, "The tiny meteorites, less than a "millimeter across", make up the most precisely dated collection of the debris."

What's an alternative to saying "millimeter across"?

You can use alternatives like "millimeter in diameter" or "millimeter wide" to describe the dimension of an object.

Is it better to say "millimeter in diameter" or "millimeter across"?

Both "millimeter in diameter" and "millimeter across" are acceptable. "Millimeter in diameter" is more specific, while "millimeter across" is a bit more general in describing size.

When should I use "millimeter across" versus "centimeter across"?

Use "millimeter across" for very small objects or measurements requiring precision to the millimeter level. Use "centimeter across" when describing larger objects where millimeter-level precision is not needed.