small to average

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small to average" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a size or quantity that falls within a range from small to average. Example: "The plants in this garden are small to average in size, making them perfect for compact spaces."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I can take a small to average sized penis now," Tom said.

Vice

* 7" size and light weight is very easy to hold in one hand, even with small to average hands.

Huffington Post

(Small flaccid penises grow more to erection than large flaccid organs). 1percentt of men worldwide have a penis measuring longer than 8¾ inches Approximately 70percentt of men worldwide have a penis measuring 6 ¼ inches or less (which are considered to be small to average size penises).

Huffington Post

For child outcomes, small to average effects on child behaviour were found in one meta-analysis [ 36].

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Respondents were found to perceive the probability of having a genetic predisposition to be (very) small to average, even though many of the genetic variants that have been shown to influence smoking behaviour are prevalent in the population.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Small to average-sized protein domains can now be designed automatically, and side-chain placement calculations can be solved for nearly all sizes of proteins and protein complexes in the growing field of structural genomics.

Journal of Molecular Biology

2) The Gibbs energy of unfolding for a small to average-sized protein is about two or three orders of magnitude smaller than the standard molal Gibbs energy for the unfolded protein itself.

Geochemical Transactions

Some do, but they generally seem to be smaller to average.

Vice

The skittle woman has long, slim top half with small-to-average-sized breasts, a slim waist, a small tummy and wider at the hips and thighs.

WikiHow

High presurgery emotional distress levels were associated with significantly more postsurgical pain, analgesic use, and impairment after surgery, with small to medium average effect sizes.

The Journal of Pain

"The study shows it having a small to moderate average effect for patients, meaning there will be some people who experience little or no effect and other people for whom it has substantial benefit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sizes or quantities, use "small to average" to indicate a range that includes both small and typical instances, avoiding extremes.

Common error

Be cautious of overusing "small to average" when more precise descriptions are possible. Consider providing specific measurements or comparisons to enhance clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small to average" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun by describing its size as falling within a certain range. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and functions to specify the size as something between small and typical.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small to average" functions as a descriptive adjective indicating that something is neither exceptionally small nor remarkably large. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its usage across various contexts like news, science and wiki. While "small to average" is grammatically sound, more precise descriptions should be adopted to promote clarity and impact. Related phrases such as "modest in size" or "fairly typical" can serve as alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest in size

Emphasizes the limited size, downplaying any sense of being particularly small or large.

within a moderate range

Focuses on the inclusion within a defined spectrum, suggesting neither extreme is reached.

somewhat unremarkable

Highlights the lack of exceptional qualities, leaning towards the ordinary or typical.

average to a degree

Expresses proximity to the average, but with a hint of not fully reaching it.

relatively ordinary

Indicates comparison against a general standard, with the subject being on the common side.

fairly typical

Highlights adherence to a common type or standard, suggesting ordinariness.

ranging from low to medium

Specifies the extent, positioning the subject on a measurable scale between low and medium values.

of a limited extent

Stresses the restriction in magnitude or scope, without specific reference to average.

not particularly large

Directly negates largeness, implying a position at or below the average but not necessarily small.

somewhere in the middle

Indicates a central position between extremes, without specifying anything about size.

FAQs

How can I use "small to average" in a sentence?

You can use "small to average" to describe the size or extent of something that is neither particularly small nor significantly large. For instance, "The plants in the garden are "small to average" in size, making them suitable for compact spaces."

What are some alternatives to saying "small to average"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "modest in size", "relatively ordinary", or "fairly typical" instead of "small to average".

Is "small to average" the same as "below average"?

"Small to average" suggests a range that includes the typical size, whereas "below average" indicates a size that is less than what is typical. The former is more inclusive, while the latter is more specific.

When should I use "small to average" versus "medium-sized"?

Use "small to average" when you want to include items that are both on the smaller side and of typical size. Use "medium-sized" when you specifically want to indicate that the item is of a typical or unremarkable size, excluding the smaller end of the spectrum.