moderately small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moderately small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is small in size but not extremely so, indicating a middle ground in size. Example: "The apartment was moderately small, making it cozy but still functional for a single occupant."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Moderately small eruptions can kill a lot of people.

Stanford University

Considerable progress has been made in defining and incorporating evaluation criteria in systems that generalize maps over moderately small changes in scale.

Generalisation of Geographic Information Cartographic Modelling and Applications

Model II is valid for very small ε (e.g., ε=10−7), but Model I for a moderately small ε (=0.1 10−4).

Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics

For the vibrations of the shell itself, the dynamic version of the Sanders non-linear equations for the case of moderately small rotations is employed.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Due to its large range, stable population trend, and moderately small to large population size, the conservation status of Great Swallow-tailed Swift currently is listed by IUCN as Least Concern (Birdlife International 2012).

Cornell University

The data from San Francisco County, however, produce a moderately small significance probability (0.08) arising from a distance analysis and a significant p-value (0.01) arising from a frequency analysis of concordant case pairs.

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Instead, he wants to be a living example encouraging people to downsize, even if it's only to a moderately smaller home.

The New York Times

BEF and R were also correlated with each other in this study, but the correlation coefficient was moderately smaller.

Carbon Balance and Management

Contrary to previous findings with whites, black subjects with a parental history of hypertension exhibited significantly smaller systolic blood pressure and forearm blood flow increases, and moderately smaller diastolic blood pressure increases to the task.

Duke University

The results across two different open source programs were then compared against a previous mono-objective and previous multi-objective approach, and, while the number of defects resolved was moderately smaller, the meaningful refactorings were increased.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

The amplitude of the MI at the HUA station is larger (approximately −50 nT) than at GOES-12 (approximately −19 nT), and the amplitude ratio of the satellite to the ground is 0.34, which is moderately smaller than that recorded by Kokubun (1983) (0 55 at 07:00 MLT).

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sizes, use "moderately small" to indicate a size that is noticeably small but not extremely so. This offers a balanced and precise way to characterize dimensions without exaggeration.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately small" when a more precise measurement or comparison is available. For instance, instead of saying "a moderately small room", specify the room's dimensions or compare it to a standard room size.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately small" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the size of something, indicating that it is small but not extremely so. Ludwig provides several examples where it's used to describe various entities ranging from populations to physical objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

Academia

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "moderately small" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that is somewhat small, but not extremely so. According to Ludwig, it is particularly prevalent in scientific and academic contexts, offering a balanced and precise way to characterize dimensions without exaggeration. While alternatives like "somewhat small" or "fairly small" exist, the choice depends on the desired nuance and context. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is appropriate for use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat small

Indicates a slight degree of smallness, similar to "moderately small" but with a slightly less formal tone.

Fairly small

Suggests a degree of smallness that is adequate or reasonable. It's a less precise term than "moderately small".

Relatively small

Emphasizes the size in comparison to something else. The comparison isn't explicit in "moderately small".

Slightly small

Highlights the smallness as a minor or insignificant characteristic. "Moderately small" implies a more noticeable degree of smallness.

Reasonably small

Suggests that the size is small but within acceptable limits. "Moderately small" doesn't necessarily imply acceptance, just a degree.

Decently small

Implies an acceptable level of smallness. It's less formal than "moderately small".

A bit small

A more casual and less precise way of saying "moderately small".

Kind of small

Very informal and subjective, indicating a personal perception of smallness.

Medium-small

Categorizes the size on a scale, suggesting it is between medium and small. "Moderately small" is more descriptive.

Miniature

Implies a very small size, smaller than what "moderately small" suggests. Connotes something that is a scaled-down version of something else.

FAQs

How can I use "moderately small" in a sentence?

You can use "moderately small" to describe something that is small, but not extremely so. For example, "The company experienced a "moderately small" decline in profits this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "moderately small"?

Alternatives to "moderately small" include "somewhat small", "fairly small", or "relatively small". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "moderately small" the same as "slightly small"?

"Moderately small" implies a more noticeable degree of smallness compared to "slightly small". "Slightly small" suggests the smallness is minor or almost negligible, while ""moderately small"" is more significant.

Which is more formal, "moderately small" or "kind of small"?

"Moderately small" is more formal and appropriate for professional or academic writing. "Kind of small" is informal and best suited for casual conversation or less formal contexts.