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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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much more smaller

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much more smaller" is not correct in written English.
It is a redundancy because "smaller" already implies a comparative degree, and "much more" is unnecessary. Example: "This room is much smaller than the last one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"I felt much more smaller," he said sadly.

News & Media

The New York Times

Examination of the association between measured foF2, hmF2 and M 3000 F2 illustrates consistent much more smaller correlation coefficients with no systematic linkage.

The spermatids were characterized by major morphological changes of the nuclei and the initiation of chromatin remodeling, in which histones are replaced by much more smaller DNA-packaging proteins.

As can be seen from Figure  3A, the contractile response to the Phe in ROCK2 inhibitor-incubated endo diabetic rings is much more smaller that of untreated and control ones (the last data not shown).

However, it is not clear why for some data sets WLS gave a much more smaller confidence set than GLS, as can be observed for the data set 13, which is quite similar to 12 (for instance, the number of site patterns was 45 and 41, respectively) or data set 2, which is similar to 9 (both had 69 patterns).

However, in practice, it turned out that round cells were very rare, as indicated by our eccentricity parameter (minor axis divided by major axis length), which was (mostly much more) smaller than 0.95 in typically more than 99% of cells for a given section.

Science

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The inner premixed flames are more random with much more small-scale wrinkling structures.

The ecology of the old City made it much more small-scale and cautious.

News & Media

The Guardian

Ads in the outfield for Uncle Mick's Bar and Grill and the Vista Center Ice Skating Rink betray a much more small-town audience than in Fort Lauderdale.

In the early years, the event was "much more small and intimate," with about 50 people, Greenwald said.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

In comparison with the other approaches, ClusterBFS discovers much more small size complexes.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using redundant comparative forms. Using "smaller" already indicates a comparison; adding "much more" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. Instead, use adverbs like 'significantly' or 'considerably' with 'smaller' to emphasize the difference in size.

Common error

Don't compound comparative adjectives. While it might seem intuitive to add emphasis with phrases like "much more smaller", stick to using a single comparative form or modify the adjective with an adverb like "much" or "far". Use "much smaller" or "far smaller" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much more smaller" functions as an attempt to emphasize a comparative adjective, but it is grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, this constitutes a redundancy, as 'smaller' already signifies a comparative degree.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much more smaller" is considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature, as pointed out by Ludwig. While examples of its usage can be found, particularly in science and news media contexts, these are best regarded as errors. To express a greater difference in size, it's more appropriate to use phrases like "significantly smaller" or "far smaller". Doing so ensures grammatical correctness and enhances the clarity of your writing.

FAQs

Why is "much more smaller" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "much more smaller" is redundant. The word "smaller" already implies a comparative degree, so adding "much more" is unnecessary. It's like saying something is "more comparative".

What are some alternatives to "much more smaller"?

You can use phrases like "significantly smaller", "considerably smaller", or "far smaller" to express a notable difference in size without being redundant.

Is it ever appropriate to use "much more smaller" in writing?

No, "much more smaller" is generally not appropriate in formal or informal writing. It's considered a grammatical error. Stick to using correct and concise language.

How can I avoid making similar grammatical errors with other comparative adjectives?

Be mindful of adjectives that already imply a comparison, such as "better", "worse", "larger", and "smaller". Avoid adding extra comparative modifiers like "more" or "much more" before them. Instead, use adverbs like "much", "far", or "significantly".

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Source & Trust

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