shorter than even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shorter than even" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the length of something to another, emphasizing that it is shorter than what might be expected or previously mentioned. Example: "The new smartphone model is shorter than even the previous compact version, making it more portable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It's longer than a long magazine feature — which are often between 6,000 and 8,000 words — but much shorter than even a short book.

The New York Times

If dimensioned properly (i.e. with suitable coaxial waveguide diameters a and b), its penetration depth may be shorter than even the TE210 mode.

Journal of Mathematics in Industry

Unfortunately, the transmission time of a code word in a high data rate OW system is much shorter than even the shortest fades.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side would see their current 6-4 (Hills) cut to shorter than evens, with one odds compiler revealing United could be trading as low as 8-11 on Monday even if Liverpool win at Stoke on Saturday.

The Guardian - Sport

Any player shorter than that, even one with first-round ability, should not be drafted above the sixth or seventh round, the Cowboys figured.

The New York Times - Sports

In comparison to IVUS based Doppler methods for intravascular flow imaging, Doppler OCT provides better spatial and velocity resolution as both technique are subjected to the same Doppler angle error, but optical wavelength is much shorter than IVUS even when the latter operates at 100 MHz.

Biomedical Optics Express

Although adult lifespan of morning and evening emerging males from the selected populations does not differ, morning emerging females live shorter than their evening emerging counterparts (Fig. 2).

Biology Open

But cycling remains mired in this "delicate flower" mentality, with women's races routinely a third shorter than men's (even though there's a strong case to be made for equalising the distances downwards rather than upwards).

The Guardian - Sport

My parents were told that she might never walk, that she might have one leg shorter than the other; even if she did walk, she would have a limp.

The Guardian

Besides, the lengths of the nanorods are shorter than 2 μm even though the growth time is the same with the sample grown at 405°C.

Nanoscale Research Letters

A water domain has considerable effect on seismic waveforms and must be properly treated when the waveform period is shorter than 2 s, even if recording stations lie in the near field.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shorter than even" when you want to emphasize that something is surprisingly short, surpassing previous expectations or references. This construction adds emphasis to the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "shorter than even" when a simple comparison is sufficient. The phrase is best reserved for instances where you want to highlight an unexpected or surprising degree of shortness, adding emphasis to the comparative statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shorter than even" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it possesses a length that is less than a specified or implied point of reference, emphasizing an unexpected degree of brevity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and adds emphasis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shorter than even" is a grammatically correct construction used to emphasize an unexpected degree of shortness in a comparison. While its usage is relatively rare, Ludwig AI confirms its validity and appropriate contexts. The phrase appears mostly in news and scientific domains, serving to highlight a surprising or notable brevity. For alternatives, consider using "even briefer than", "surprisingly shorter than", or "shorter than expected", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Use the phrase when you want to highlight that the subject is shorter than what was already considered to be short.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even briefer than

Emphasizes brevity beyond a previous reference.

surprisingly shorter than

Highlights the unexpected nature of the shortness.

shorter than expected

Focuses on a deviation from anticipation.

even more concise than

Implies a high degree of brevity.

considerably shorter than

Highlights a significant difference in length.

markedly shorter than

Emphasizes the noticeable difference in shortness.

appreciably shorter than

Suggests a measurable and noticeable difference.

distinctly shorter than

Indicates a clear and unambiguous difference.

noticeably shorter than

Implies that the difference is easily observed.

unusually shorter than

Highlights the uncommon or atypical shortness.

FAQs

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

Use "shorter than even" to emphasize that something is surprisingly short, surpassing prior expectations. For example, "This new version is "shorter than even" the prototype."

What's the difference between "shorter than" and "shorter than even"?

"Shorter than" is a general comparison, while "shorter than even" adds emphasis, highlighting the unexpected or surprising nature of the shortness. It implies the subject is shorter than what was already considered short.

What are some alternatives to "shorter than even"?

Alternatives include "even briefer than", "surprisingly shorter than", or "shorter than expected", depending on the context.

Is "shorter than even" grammatically correct?

Yes, "shorter than even" is grammatically correct and usable in written English, especially when you want to emphasize the unexpected degree of shortness in a comparison, as Ludwig AI also confirms.