not larger than

USAGE SUMMARY

"not larger than" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something is smaller or equal in size or amount compared to something else. You can use it in any situation where you want to describe the size or amount of something. Example: The maximum luggage allowance for this flight is not larger than 23 kilograms per passenger.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was not larger than life.

The New York Times - Books

He has a love that is not larger than himself.

The Washington Post

The MIC is not larger than 200 μg ml−1.

Polymer

He was, if not larger than life, larger in size than most humans.

The New York Times

The congruence between formula and observations is excellent: the discrepancy is not larger than 0.2 Re.

Advances in Space Research

He said next month's corn estimate might be smaller, not larger, than yesterday's.

The New York Times

In contrast, both PD and RD groups were estimated to produce scarcer and smaller fluctuations (not larger than 50 pN).

Journal of Biomechanics

The final instrument is able to measure isotope activities with a relative standard uncertainty not larger than 1%.

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

A flexible die forming process is proposed to form aluminum micro channels with channel widths not larger than 1 mm.

Journal of Manufacturing Processes

People seem to think my problems are larger than life, but they're not larger than my life.

The New York Times - Magazine

Moreover, the validity of circular shape assumption is certified when the particle volume fraction is not larger than 0.4.

Acta Materialia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing sizes or quantities, ensure that the units of measurement are consistent. For example, compare kilograms to kilograms, not kilograms to pounds.

Common error

Avoid using "not larger than" in contexts that demand more precise or technical language. In scientific papers or legal documents, "less than or equal to" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not larger than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to set an upper limit or establish a maximum value. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not larger than" is a versatile and grammatically correct comparative phrase used to establish upper limits or constraints. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's common across various contexts, including science, news, and academia. While alternatives like "no bigger than" or "less than or equal to" exist, "not larger than" maintains a neutral to formal tone, making it suitable for diverse writing scenarios. Remember to maintain consistent units of measurement when making comparisons, and avoid using it in contexts demanding highly precise or technical language. The phrase sees the most frequent occurence in Scientific contexts and News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no bigger than

Replaces "larger" with "bigger", maintaining the same meaning but using a more informal term.

not greater than

Uses a direct antonym for "larger", maintaining formality.

less than or equal to

A more mathematical or precise way of expressing the same idea.

smaller or equal to

Directly states the two possibilities: smaller or equal.

not exceeding

Focuses on the upper limit, suitable for formal contexts.

at most

Indicates the maximum possible size or amount.

no more than

Emphasizes a limit or maximum quantity.

up to

Specifies an inclusive upper bound.

not surpassing

A more formal and less common way to indicate a limit.

within the bounds of

Indicates that something falls within a certain limit or range.

FAQs

How can I use "not larger than" in a sentence?

You can use "not larger than" to compare the size, amount, or extent of two things. For example, "The file size should be "not larger than" 2MB."

What are some alternatives to saying "not larger than"?

Alternatives include "no bigger than", "less than or equal to", or "at most", depending on the context.

Is "not larger than" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not larger than" is grammatically correct and widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "not larger than" and "not bigger than"?

While both phrases are similar in meaning, "not larger than" is generally considered more formal, while "not bigger than" is more informal.