over a small distance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over a small distance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing measurements, movements, or changes that occur within a limited range or area. Example: "The object moved over a small distance before coming to a stop."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

If mixing over a small distance is considered, the model is in agreement with convective mixing (Levenspiel and Fitzgerald, 1983).

Chemical Engineering Science

Himalayas provide high altitudinal gradients and extreme slopes which may rapid changes in climatic zones over a small distance which reflects noticeable changes in the forest community structures.

Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity

For this purpose, it was developed high accuracy displacement simulator apparatus, which is able to move accurately over a small distance in one direction and horizontal plane.

Measurement

This model is based on variable range hopping theory (VRH), i.e., a carrier may either hop over a small distance with a high activation energy or hop over a long distance with a low activation energy.

Solid-State Electronics

A mollifier is used to smooth out the discontinuity in the flux function over a small distance ϵ≪1 and then the analytical solution to the corresponding Riemann problem is derived in the limit as ϵ→0.

Journal of Computational Physics

The core-shell NW heterostructure can also benefit from the charge carrier separation over a small distance of the NW diameter[2].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In addition, it is viable to achieve high density recording using a novel recording scenario that the probe moves a small distance over the media and thus gives rise to a recorded mark with "arbitrary" length by making use of the inter-symbol-interference (ISI) effect, also known as mark-length recording.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This means that the ball is lofted a small distance over the foul line before it makes contact with the lane.

WikiHow

Given that the object started at position at time, and that it moved by a small distance of over a period of time, the following assumption can be made: (8).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

If your yard or lawn is small, you can choose to use weak sprinklers, which sprinkle water over a smaller distance.

WikiHow

Wind shear itself is a microscale meteorological phenomenon occurring over a very small distance, but it can be associated with mesoscale or synoptic scale weather features such as squall lines and cold fronts.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scientific phenomena or technical specifications, use "over a small distance" to accurately depict movements or effects occurring within precise spatial limits. This ensures clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "over a small distance" when a more general term like "nearby" or "close by" would suffice, especially in informal contexts. Overusing precise language can make your writing sound overly technical or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over a small distance" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying the spatial extent over which an action or phenomenon occurs. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

Wiki

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over a small distance" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify that an action, movement, or effect occurs within a limited spatial range. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently found in scientific contexts, although it also appears in wikis and news media. The phrase is best suited for formal writing where precision is important. While common, it can be replaced with alternatives like "across a short span" or "within a limited range" to add variety to your writing. Be mindful of the context to ensure the chosen phrase accurately reflects the scale you intend to describe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

across a short span

Replaces "distance" with "span" and "small" with "short", emphasizing the brevity of the measurement.

within a limited range

Substitutes "distance" with "range" and uses "limited" to convey the small extent.

over a brief interval

Changes "distance" to "interval" and "small" to "brief", highlighting the limited time or space.

in close proximity

Replaces the entire phrase with a term that directly implies nearness and a reduced space between.

within a narrow margin

Emphasizes precision and confinement within specific boundaries.

across a tight space

Replaces "distance" with "space" and uses "tight" to emphasize the restriction of the area.

in a confined area

Highlights the limited nature of the space.

over a negligible length

Uses "negligible" to stress the insignificance of the distance.

within a compact zone

Replaces "distance" with "zone" and uses "compact" to convey that the space is small and tightly packed.

across a reduced scope

Highlights the limitation of the area being considered.

FAQs

How can I use "over a small distance" in a sentence?

Use "over a small distance" to describe movement, change, or influence that occurs within a limited spatial range. For example: "The temperature changes significantly "over a small distance"."

What are some alternatives to "over a small distance"?

You can use alternatives such as "across a short span", "within a limited range", or "in close proximity", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "over a small distance" or "across a small distance"?

Both "over a small distance" and "across a small distance" are grammatically correct, but "over" implies movement or effect occurring throughout the distance, while "across" implies traversing the distance from one point to another. Choose the one that best fits the meaning you intend to convey.

What's the difference between "over a small distance" and "over a great distance"?

"Over a small distance" describes something occurring within a short spatial range, while "over a great distance" describes something occurring across a long spatial range. The choice depends on the scale you are describing.