should be small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing size requirements or preferences in various contexts, such as design, measurements, or quantities. Example: "The font size for the headings should be small to maintain a clean and minimalist look."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Methane emissions should be small.

The Economist

Maybe seafood should be small and local.

The Guardian

However, these changes should be small.

Harvard University

Since we are here, the constant should be small.

The New York Times - Science

The beverage should be small, and the dessert shared.

The New York Times

In CFD computations, discretization or truncation errors should be small providing an acceptable level of accuracy.

Journal of Computational Physics

Finally, channel gap sizes should be small enough to minimize mass-transfer effects.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Parabolic-trough collectors (PTCs) suitable for these applications should be small due to space constraints.

Journal of Cleaner Production

Metrology loops should be small, avoid force loops, and the force should be kept at minimum.

Surfaces and Their Measurement

The spot size on sample should be small than 1 mm (h) × 0.5 mm (v).

Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena

And the tidbit should be small enough for a single mouthful.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dimensions, ensure "should be small" is followed by a specific measurement or range for clarity. For example, "The font size should be small, around 10 points."

Common error

Avoid using "should be small" without specifying what should be small. This can lead to ambiguity. Provide context, such as "The sample size should be small to minimize processing time."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be small" functions as a predicate adjective describing a desired or recommended attribute of a noun. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase appears in a variety of contexts where minimizing size is beneficial. It suggests a condition that is advisable or preferable but not necessarily mandatory.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be small" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to recommend or specify a size limitation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears across various contexts, including science, news, media, and general writing. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it's important to provide context and specificity to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "ought to be diminutive" or "needs to be compact" can be used to express different nuances. When using the phrase, ensure you define what exactly is expected to be small in order to be clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be compact

Substitutes "small" with "compact", stressing efficient use of space, and replaces "should" with "needs to", indicating necessity.

must be miniature

Replaces "small" with "miniature", highlighting the very small scale, and changes "should" to "must", implying a requirement.

ought to be diminutive

Replaces "small" with "diminutive", emphasizing tininess, and "should" with "ought to", indicating moral obligation or advisability.

has to be reduced

Focuses on the action of making something small or less, using "has to be" instead of "should be" to convey necessity.

it is preferable to be short

Replaces "small" with "short", applicable in contexts like time or length, and uses "it is preferable to be" instead of "should be" to express a preference.

is advised to be minimal

Replaces "small" with "minimal", emphasizing the least possible amount, and uses "is advised to be" instead of "should be" to suggest a recommendation.

it's recommended to be concise

Uses "concise" indicating brevity in speech or writing instead of "small" and expresses advice or a recommendation.

is better if it's petite

Uses "petite" as a synonym for "small" and "is better if it's" instead of "should be" to express preference.

the goal is to be unobtrusive

Replaces "small" with "unobtrusive", focusing on not being noticeable, and shifts from obligation to a statement of intent.

is expected to be contained

Suggests that the size is not just desired but predicted or anticipated, and replaces "small" with "contained", implying restriction within limits.

FAQs

How can I use "should be small" in a sentence?

You can use "should be small" to express a desired or required size. For example, "The class size "should be small" to ensure individual attention for each student."

What are some alternatives to "should be small"?

Alternatives to "should be small" include "ought to be diminutive", "needs to be compact", or "must be miniature", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "should be small" or "should be smaller"?

"Should be small" is generally used when referring to an absolute size, while "should be smaller" is used for comparative contexts. For example: "The portion size should be small" versus "This model should be smaller than the previous one."

What's the difference between "should be small" and "needs to be small"?

"Should be small" expresses a recommendation or preference, while "needs to be small" implies a requirement or necessity. For example: "The file size should be small for easy sharing" (recommendation) versus "The device needs to be small to fit in your pocket" (requirement).