shorter

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "shorter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "shorter" when describing something that is not as long as something else. For example: "This route is much shorter than taking the highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Sport

Books

Money

Tech

Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Getting more energy from renewables; increased energy efficiency; reducing the income gap; putting more reliable, durable products on the market (have you heard of planned obsolescence?); volunteering more for your community; preserving wetlands, forests, and farmland; shorter commutes and transport routes.

The Guardian

Tweets may be shorter, but at least you have all the space you need to explain your opinion and justify your thoughts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Consequently an hour of light at evening rush hour reduces risk for more drivers and pedestrians than an hour of light during the shorter morning rush hour, when there are fewer road users than at the end of the working day".

The Guardian

The park's 130km circuit is popular, though those tight for time can opt for shorter sections.

The Guardian - Travel

Tesco's miniskirt is just 29.5cm long – nearly 10cm shorter than skirts sold at Asda or Sainsbury's.

The Guardian

At 150 minutes, the epic length of the film posed a challenge to programmers trying to offer customers a choice of two evening showtimes, and there was evidence of straddling across two screens, alternating with a shorter film.

The Guardian - Film

GP training has hardly changed since I qualified in 2007 and is shorter than all other UK surgical or medical specialties.

The Guardian

The prime minister gets even shorter shrift from Johanne, who predictably dismisses him when he comes crying to her, asking what he should do.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The spareness, learned in his youth from the poet Louis Bouilhet, is still there – as in the opening of "Hautot & Son" (1889), where, as Sean O'Faolain writes, "the scene is brilliantly and swiftly painted, with three lines for the countryside and six for the sportsmen" – but the stories' scope helps avoid the glibness that can mar his shorter work.

The Guardian - Books

It is possible to walk shorter parts of the path; for example, there's a great 47-mile walk that takes in the wild moors at Bwlch Mawr, the iron age fort at Tre'r Ceiri and the blustery Porth Oer cliffs.

The Guardian - Travel

"We would consult with copyright holders and the general public to establish an appropriate length, but believe copyright terms should be shorter than they are at present in order to reduce restrictions on our shared cultural heritage," a Green party spokesman said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing lengths, ensure you clearly specify what is being compared to what. For instance, instead of saying "the line is shorter", say "the blue line is shorter than the red line".

Common error

Avoid using "shorter" with absolute measurements. Instead of saying "the rope is shorter, it's 10cm", say "the rope is 10cm long".

Linguistic Context

The word "shorter" functions primarily as a comparative adjective. It modifies a noun by indicating that it possesses less of a certain quality (usually length or duration) than another noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Travel

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Sport

8%

Books

7%

Money

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shorter" functions as a comparative adjective used to indicate that something is less in length, duration, or extent compared to something else. As Ludwig AI notes, it is a correct and usable term in English. With a neutral register and very common frequency, it appears most often in news and media, travel writing, and lifestyle articles. To use it effectively, clearly specify what you are comparing and avoid using it with absolute measurements. When a different nuance is needed, consider alternatives like "less lengthy" or "more concise".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as long

Provides a direct and simple comparison, using basic vocabulary to convey the same meaning.

less lengthy

Uses "less" and "lengthy" to indicate reduced length, differing in word choice.

more concise

Focuses on brevity and reduced word count, shifting the emphasis from physical length to succinctness.

of reduced duration

Specifies a decrease in time, offering a more formal and precise alternative for temporal contexts.

diminished in size

Emphasizes the reduction in physical dimensions, broadening the context from length to overall size.

on the short side

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe something that is relatively short, providing a more casual alternative.

curtailed

Implies a reduction or restriction, often used in the context of time or rights, offering a more formal tone.

not as extensive

Indicates a reduced scope or range, extending the comparison beyond physical length to include breadth and depth.

abridged

Suggests a shortened version, typically of a text or story, focusing on condensation and editing.

more compact

Highlights the quality of being smaller and more efficiently arranged, differing in focus from mere length.

FAQs

How can I use "shorter" in a sentence?

You can use "shorter" to compare the length, duration, or extent of two things. For example, "This route is "shorter" than the highway", or "The meeting will be "shorter" this time".

What's a good alternative to the word "shorter"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "less lengthy", "more concise", or "not as long" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "the shortest" instead of "shorter"?

It depends on the context. Use "the shortest" when referring to the absolute minimum length among three or more items. Use "shorter" when comparing only two items.

What is the difference between "shorter" and "smaller"?

"Shorter" refers specifically to length or duration, while "smaller" refers to overall size or amount. A "shorter" rope has less length, while a smaller box has less volume.