shorter than before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shorter than before" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare the length of something to its previous state, indicating that it has decreased in length. Example: "After the haircut, my hair is definitely shorter than before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I'm not ready to say the regular season is diminished, but you have to capture that attention span, and it's shorter than before".

The New York Times - Sports

These are similarly ostentatious moves that can cleave an opponent's health bar in two, but the animations are generally shorter than before, helping to maintain the pace of matches.

The Guardian - Tech

Thus, myelin sheaths that reappear after LPC treatment are thinner and shorter than before, pathognomonic of remyelination.

Experimental Neurology

Now it's shorter than before.

The New York Times

So the Nano is wider and shorter than before.

The New York Times - Tech

And he said trips were often shorter than before.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The car is shorter and wider than before, too.

The Guardian - Tech

The body, roughly an inch shorter and lower than before, adopts some of the stacked-Lego look of the E-Class sedan.

The New York Times

As evident, in the after lunch session, time since last meal was significantly shorter than in the before lunch session.

Agricultural and Food Economics

After each cell division telomeres become shorter than they were before and upon reaching a critical length, cells enter G1 arrest and are unable to undergo further proliferation [ 30].

BioMed Research International

And my kale is now bushier (although much shorter) than ever before.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shorter than before" to clearly indicate a reduction in length compared to a previous measurement or state. For example, "The new version of the software has a shorter installation time than before."

Common error

Avoid using "shorter than before" when the comparison isn't clear or relevant. For instance, saying "The line is shorter than before, but it's still long" lacks specific context and weakens the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shorter than before" functions as a comparative, indicating a reduction in length relative to a prior state or measurement. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shorter than before" is a grammatically sound and commonly used comparative, as validated by Ludwig AI. It effectively communicates a reduction in length relative to a prior state, making it suitable for various contexts ranging from news and media to scientific writing. While alternatives exist, "shorter than before" offers a concise and clear way to express this comparison, but be mindful of the clarity of the point of comparison to avoid vague statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less lengthy than previously

Replaces "shorter" with a more formal synonym and restructures the sentence.

reduced in length compared to before

Uses "reduced" instead of "shorter" and provides a more explicit comparison.

not as long as it used to be

Employs a more conversational tone and focuses on the change over time.

decreased in size relative to its prior state

Utilizes formal language and emphasizes the proportional change.

curtailed compared to its initial dimensions

Replaces "shorter" with a more sophisticated term and focuses on the initial size.

contracted in length from what it once was

Uses "contracted" to suggest a reduction and highlights the former state.

smaller in dimension than formerly

Employs formal language and emphasizes the dimensional aspect.

brief compared to its previous duration

Focuses on the briefness relative to the previous time period.

truncated in relation to its earlier extent

Utilizes a more technical term to describe the reduction.

abridged from its original extension

Uses "abridged" and focuses on the original length.

FAQs

How can I use "shorter than before" in a sentence?

You can use "shorter than before" to describe a decrease in length compared to a previous state. For example, "The new route is "shorter than before", saving us time."

What are some alternatives to saying "shorter than before"?

Alternatives include phrases like "less lengthy than previously", "reduced in length compared to before", or "not as long as it used to be", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "shorter than what it was before"?

While grammatically correct, "shorter than what it was before" is more verbose than simply saying ""shorter than before"". The latter is more concise and commonly used.

When should I use "shorter than before" versus "shorter than ever"?

"Shorter than before" implies a comparison to a previous state, whereas "shorter than ever" suggests the shortest length in a series of lengths. For instance, "My hair is "shorter than before", since my last haircut" versus "This is the "shorter than ever" commute to work".