small stance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small stance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a physical position or posture that is compact or not wide, often in contexts related to sports, dance, or body language. Example: "The athlete took a small stance before making the jump, ensuring better balance and control."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At high enough speeds and stride lengths, a simple point mass model of bipedal locomotion suggests that an infinitely stiff, straight leg with zero sweep angle ('impulsive running', Srinivasan & Ruina 2006) minimizes mechanical cost of transport (MCoT) (figure 1 b, black line), because stiff legs with small stance angles reduce fluctuations in forward velocity and kinetic energy.

Biology Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Next, to see whether a wider stance actually causes attractiveness and not the other way around, the researchers took to dating applications in San Francisco, California, recording how many people matched with fake profiles that had big or small stances.

Science Magazine

It has a smaller stance, the company says, specifically to attract smaller riders, female riders, or first-time riders who might be intimidated by a full-size Indian -- much as competitor, and segment leader, Harley-Davidson has done with its Sportster and new Street 500 and Street 750 bikes.

Los Angeles Times

Males had a smaller stance and DLS, and a larger swing and SLS compared to females.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Males walked with a smaller stance and double limb support, and with a larger swing and single limb support compared to females.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Lower ground clearance- a smaller stance increases sex appeal.

WikiHow

The big question is over his sprawling spending plans, which put him at odds with the Liberal Party's pro-market, small-government stance.

The Economist

In a 2006 study, the Pew Research Center found that libertarians took small-government stances on economic issues, separating themselves from Democrats, but permissive stances on social issues, setting themselves apart from Republicans.

The New York Times

They didn't move, beyond small adjustments in stance, until David Bowie issued his command in "Let's Dance".

The New York Times - Arts

As an analogy, it is more or less similar to a fighting stance, small forward stance or sanchin stance in Karate.

WikiHow

In the real world, such antics may be scorned as naive, but as this intelligent film proves – much like CPH DOX itself – it is the smaller, more personal stance that may ultimately make the bigger difference.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific posture or position, use "small stance" to indicate a narrow or compact arrangement of the feet or legs, enhancing precision in your description.

Common error

Avoid using "small stance" in contexts where you intend to express a minor or insignificant opinion. While "stance" can refer to a position on an issue, "small stance" typically describes physical posture, and its use in the wrong context can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small stance" primarily functions as a descriptive term, typically modifying a noun to specify the nature of a physical position. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "small stance" is a descriptive phrase denoting a narrow or compact physical posture. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its primary function is to provide a precise description, often in contexts related to sports, body language, or scientific analysis. The phrase appears across various registers, indicating a neutral formality level. While commonly used to describe physical positions, it's important to avoid using "small stance" to indicate a minor opinion. Alternatives such as "narrow stance" or "compact stance" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrow stance

Focuses on the reduced width of the stance.

compact stance

Emphasizes the compressed or tightly packed nature of the stance.

close stance

Highlights the proximity of the feet or legs in the stance.

tight stance

Suggests a stance with minimal space between the feet.

limited stance

Focuses on the restricted space or area covered by the stance.

miniature stance

Implies an unusually small or reduced stance.

reduced stance

Highlights that the stance has been made smaller.

subtle stance

Emphasizes a stance that is not readily apparent or noticeable in its smallness.

slight stance

Similar to subtle, but emphasizes the minimal degree of the stance.

minimal stance

Stresses the extremely reduced nature of the stance, suggesting it's as small as possible.

FAQs

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

You can use "small stance" to describe a physical position, for example: "The athlete adopted a "small stance" to improve balance."

What's a good alternative to "small stance"?

Alternatives include "narrow stance", "compact stance", or "close stance", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "small stance" to describe someone's political opinion?

While "stance" can refer to an opinion, "small stance" is generally used to describe a physical posture. For a minor opinion, consider using "modest opinion" or "insignificant viewpoint".

What does "small stance" mean in the context of sports?

In sports, a "small stance" usually refers to a narrow or compact positioning of the feet, often adopted to improve balance, agility, or readiness for quick movements.