significantly smaller than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly smaller than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the size of two or more items, indicating that one is much smaller than the other. Example: "The new model is significantly smaller than its predecessor, making it easier to transport."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That cushion is significantly smaller than that required of banks.

The New York Times

Senior photographs are significantly smaller than in previous years.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Finish Line was the minnow swallowing the whale; it was significantly smaller than Genesco.

The New York Times

The crowd was significantly smaller than last year, but the park was substantially better.

The New York Times - Sports

We build the smallest new homes in Europe, significantly smaller than 100 years ago.

The Guardian

Yesterday's offering was, however, significantly smaller than what the company had originally planned.

The New York Times

The rate of valid HTTP responses from.BIZ domains is statistically significantly smaller than from.COM domains.

Harvard University

"It's significantly smaller than the other banks included in the 2015 stress test.

The Guardian - Business

That's significantly smaller than the employment-based market — one-seventh the size.

The Washington Post

Such pollution particles are significantly smaller than mold spores, pollens or typical atmospheric dust.

The New York Times

At 5-foot-5, he is significantly smaller than the guards.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significantly smaller than", ensure that the difference in size is genuinely substantial and relevant to the context. Avoid using it for trivial differences.

Common error

Avoid using "significantly smaller than" when the difference is marginal or statistically insignificant. Overusing the phrase can weaken its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly smaller than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it is notably less in size compared to another noun. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

53%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significantly smaller than" is a versatile and commonly used comparative phrase employed to emphasize a considerable difference in size. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across diverse fields, including science, news, and academia. The phrase carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for both formal and informal writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the size difference is genuinely substantial to maintain credibility. Alternatives like "much smaller than" or "considerably smaller than" can be used to add variety. With a wealth of examples from authoritative sources, "significantly smaller than" proves to be a reliable and effective choice for expressing size comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much tinier than

Emphasizes a higher degree of smallness, replacing "significantly" with "much" and using "tinier" for a more informal tone.

considerably less sizeable than

Substitutes "significantly" with "considerably" and uses "less sizeable" to convey smaller size.

markedly more compact than

Replaces the direct size comparison with "more compact", implying a smaller size, and "markedly" for "significantly".

substantially more petite than

Uses "substantially" instead of "significantly" and "petite" to emphasize daintiness and smallness.

noticeably more diminutive than

Emphasizes the perceptible difference in size using "noticeably" and substitutes "smaller" with "more diminutive".

appreciably more miniature than

Implies a clear difference in size with "appreciably" and utilizes "more miniature" to specify extreme smallness.

distinctly more reduced than

Highlights a notable difference using "distinctly" and replacing "smaller" with "more reduced" in size.

considerably more scaled-down than

Emphasizes the act of making something smaller with "scaled-down", paired with "considerably".

measurably less bulky than

Focuses on the reduction in bulk or volume, replacing "smaller" with "less bulky" and using "measurably" for a quantifiable difference.

palpably more compact than

Uses "palpably" to suggest an easily perceived difference in size, substituting "smaller" with "more compact".

FAQs

How can I use "significantly smaller than" in a sentence?

Use "significantly smaller than" to emphasize a notable difference in size between two objects or entities. For instance, "The new phone model is "significantly smaller than" its predecessor, making it easier to carry."

What phrases are similar to "significantly smaller than"?

Alternatives include "much smaller than", "considerably smaller than", or "noticeably smaller than", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "significantly smaller than"?

Use "significantly smaller than" when you want to highlight a substantial and important difference in size. Ensure the context warrants the emphasis on the size disparity.

Is there a more formal alternative to "significantly smaller than"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "appreciably smaller than" or "substantially smaller than" in more formal contexts.