small by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small by" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to compare size or scale, but it lacks context to be usable. Example: "The room felt small by comparison to the grand hall."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

And small by whose?

The Economist

But small by what standard?

The Economist

But it is too small by half.

The Economist

Wednesday, small by comparison, echoed it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Small by Asian standards, large by Europe's.

The Guardian

Our pool was pretty small by comparison.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

By making it smaller, by dividing it up," she said.

The New Yorker

"It's getting smaller by the week," Riske said Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

"You have boxes that get smaller by a calculated amount.

The New York Times

Mexico City's other edgy hotels are much smaller by comparison.

BBC

The squad is getting smaller by the week.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing sizes or scales, clarify the standard of comparison. Instead of just saying "small by", specify what you are comparing it to, such as "small by international standards".

Common error

Avoid using "small by" without explicitly stating the basis for comparison. For instance, don't say "The project was small by" without clarifying if you mean small by budget, scope, or team size.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small by" functions as a prepositional phrase that sets up a comparison, indicating that something is small in relation to a specific benchmark. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase lacks the clarity to be considered fully correct without specifying the context of comparison.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small by" is frequently used to make comparisons, yet it often lacks clarity without explicit context. Ludwig AI has determined that it's grammatically questionable unless the standard of comparison is clearly stated. While the phrase appears across diverse sources like news, science, and business, specifying what something is small by is crucial for effective communication. Alternatives such as "smaller than" or "less significant than" may offer more precision. When using "small by", ensure you clarify the benchmark to avoid ambiguity and improve the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller than

Focuses on direct comparison using a standard comparative adjective.

less significant than

Emphasizes a difference in importance or impact, not just size.

dwarfed by

Highlights a vast difference in size, where one thing is considerably larger.

on a smaller scale than

Highlights a difference in magnitude or scope.

insignificant compared to

Conveys that something is negligible when contrasted with something else.

limited relative to

Points out restrictions or constraints when compared to something else.

negligible beside

Indicates that something is so small it can be disregarded.

outweighed by

Suggests that something is less important or influential.

in comparison to

General phrase used to indicate a comparison between two things.

by comparison with

Another general comparison phrase, emphasizing the act of comparing.

FAQs

What does "small by" mean?

The phrase "small by" is generally used to indicate that something is small in comparison to a specific standard or benchmark. The exact meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

How can I use "small by" in a sentence?

To use "small by" effectively, clearly specify the standard of comparison. For example, "The company's market share is "small by industry standards"".

Is there a better way to say "small by"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "smaller than", "less significant than", or "insignificant compared to" for better clarity. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "small by comparison" and "smaller than"?

"Small by comparison" implies a more general comparison, while "smaller than" is a direct comparison of size. Using "smaller than" typically requires stating the item being compared to directly.