not that small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not that small" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is relatively small but not excessively so, often in a comparative context. Example: "The apartment is not that small; it has enough space for a living room and a bedroom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Not that small, really.

The New York Times - Tech

Not that small a seed.

The Guardian - Tech

"It is not that small foreign banks do not want to operate in mansions and town houses," Ms. Berk said.

The New York Times

Small plates, which the Italian servers call assaggini, dominate the menu, but they are not that small.

The New York Times - Food

Tom Secunda, one of his original partners, says it was small but most definitely not that small.

The New York Times

It's not that small a country.' Surprisingly, Scots are conspicuous by their absence from the presenter's own desert island discs.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

You are not that small-minded a person, I just know it.

Huffington Post

Looking at the Twingo reminded me that small cars really aren't that small any more.

Independent

The steep costs in time and energy were prohibitive for a smaller company (and we weren't that small).

Huffington Post

Big bags are cute, but I am not saying that small bags are not OK.

WikiHow

REASON 2: Not to be an ingrate, but the G1 is not actually that small.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not that small" to politely correct an understatement about size or importance. It softens the correction and maintains a positive tone.

Common error

Avoid using "not that small" when something is genuinely insignificant. Overusing it can diminish its impact, especially when something is truly trivial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not that small" functions as a modifier, specifically to describe a noun, emphasizing that its size or scope is greater than initially perceived or implied. Ludwig confirms that it's a grammatically sound expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not that small" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate that something is larger or more significant than might be assumed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and applicability across various contexts. While prevalent in news and media, it maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for both formal and informal communications. Use it to politely correct understatements, but avoid applying it to genuinely insignificant items. Alternatives such as "moderately sized" or "larger than expected" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not all that small

Adds a nuance, suggesting a prior expectation of the object being smaller.

not particularly small

A more verbose way of saying "not that small", adding slight emphasis.

moderately sized

Focuses on the size being moderate rather than addressing an assumption of smallness.

reasonably sized

Emphasizes acceptability of the size; implies meeting requirements.

of a decent size

Implies a positive assessment of the size, suggesting it is adequate.

larger than expected

Highlights the unexpected nature of the size, implying a comparison.

somewhat large

Shifts the focus to the object being on the larger side, though not extremely so.

surprisingly large

Similar to larger than expected, but puts more emphasis on surprise.

bigger than it looks

Focuses on visual perception versus actual dimensions.

not as diminutive as one might think

More formal and elaborate, emphasizing the contrast with a perceived smallness.

FAQs

How can I use "not that small" in a sentence?

Use "not that small" to indicate that something is larger or more significant than it might initially seem. For example, "The town is "not that small"; it has several shops and restaurants".

What's the difference between "not that small" and "quite large"?

"Not that small" implies a correction of an assumption of smallness, while "quite large" simply states the size. "The portion was "not that small"" suggests someone thought it would be smaller. "The portion was "quite large"" is a straightforward description.

Are there situations where "not that small" is inappropriate?

Yes, using "not that small" when the object or concept is clearly tiny or insignificant can sound sarcastic or dismissive. It's best used when there's a genuine reason to believe something might be underestimated.

What can I say instead of "not that small"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "moderately sized", "reasonably sized", or "larger than expected" to convey a similar meaning.