small boned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small boned" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who has a slender or delicate bone structure. An example would be: "She has a small boned frame that gives her an elegant appearance." Alternative expressions include "slender build," "delicate frame," and "narrow-boned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Five feet four inches tall and weighing about 100 pounds, small boned, boyish in appearance, and weak of voice, he waited six months before taking the floor, but strong actions belied his mild demeanour.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For the trial I used a small, boned, smoked piece of gammon weighing about a kilo but on the day, it'll be a full leg, with the bone still attached for the maximum Asterix-style 'scronch'scronch

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"What if you're small boned?" I challenged, but she had vaporized.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a very, very small bone.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inside was a collection of small bones.

The Guardian - Books

But I have three small bones to pick.

The New Yorker

"Small bone flutes are much easier," he said.

The Guardian

I do have a small bone to pick, however.

The New York Times

Fish heads are not fishy, but small bones abound.

The New York Times - Food

Remove the rabbit meat from the bones, being careful to discard all the small bones.

The New York Times - Magazine

''What have we here?'' He reached for the small bone she still held.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While often used without a hyphen in literary contexts, consider using a hyphen ("small-boned") if it precedes the noun it modifies to ensure clarity.

Common error

Do not confuse the descriptive adjective phrase with the literal noun phrase "small bone". For example, "He has a small bone in his hand" refers to anatomy, whereas "He is "small boned"" describes his entire physical frame.

Linguistic Context

In English grammar, "small boned" functions primarily as a compound adjective. It is used to modify nouns (typically people or animals) to specify a physical characteristic. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is correct and follows the pattern of noun-adjective combinations that describe inherent traits.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "small boned" is a legitimate and useful adjective phrase in English. It is primarily used to describe someone with a naturally slight or narrow skeletal structure. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, writers should be careful not to confuse it with literal anatomical descriptions of a "small bone" (like those found in the ear). The phrase appears most often in high-quality journalism and biographical literature, such as in the Encyclopedia Britannica's description of James Madison. Whether used with or without a hyphen, it remains a standard way to provide detailed physical characterization without the negative connotations sometimes associated with words like "skinny" or "frail".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small-boned

uses standard hyphenation for compound modifiers before a noun

fine-boned

implies a more delicate or elegant skeletal structure

delicate frame

emphasizes the fragility or lightness of the entire body

narrow-boned

specifies the width of the skeletal frame

slender build

focuses more on overall thinness rather than just bone structure

light-boned

suggests a lack of density or weight in the skeleton

narrow-framed

refers to the structural width of the shoulders and hips

slight of build

a more formal and idiomatic way to describe a small person

petite frame

commonly used in fashion to describe both height and bone size

fragile build

suggests a physical vulnerability alongside a small size

FAQs

How do I use "small boned" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicate adjective, for example: "She was surprisingly strong despite being "small boned"."

What can I say instead of "small boned"?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like "fine-boned", "slight of build", or "delicate frame".

Is "small boned" or "small-boned" more correct?

Both are acceptable, but "small-boned" is technically more standard in professional writing when acting as a compound modifier before a noun.

What is the opposite of "small boned"?

The most common antonym is "big-boned", which describes a larger, heavier skeletal structure.