smaller in number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller in number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities or populations, indicating that one group has fewer members than another. Example: "In the recent survey, the number of participants from the west coast was smaller in number compared to those from the east coast."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are smaller in number but they do exist".

The Guardian - Sport

Midterm electorates tend to be whiter, older and smaller in number than voters at presidential elections.

The Guardian

less means smaller in quantity, eg less money; fewer means smaller in number, eg fewer coins.

The Guardian

The other extremely successful immigrant group, although smaller in number, is, in a nice twist, Jews.

The New Yorker

Enslaved Africans in British North America were relatively isolated and far smaller in number.

Britannica

Users of mass transportation, though smaller in number, tell horror stories of delayed trains and overcrowded subway platforms.

The New York Times

We're not that kind of... our Navy is smaller in number of ships in any time since 1917.

The New York Times

Facing those challenges, the major publishers have been expected to join together, getting smaller in number and bigger in size.

The New York Times

Methodists and Baptists, for example, might feel slighted at being entirely overlooked when Quakers, much smaller in number, get a whole chapter to themselves.

The Guardian - Books

The fleets of the Hellenistic age were smaller in number of boats than those of the Classical period, but the battleships were larger.

Britannica

It has been suggested that the errors occurring in clinical diagnostic laboratories are smaller in number than those occurring elsewhere in a hospital setting.

Clinical Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smaller in number" when you want to emphasize a numerical comparison between two groups or sets. For example, "The team found that the number of errors was smaller in number compared to the previous experiment."

Common error

Avoid using "less" instead of "fewer" when referring to countable items. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water), while "fewer" should be used with countable nouns (e.g., fewer coins). Thus, "smaller in number" is appropriate for countable items, not for amounts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller in number" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a reduced quantity or count. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in contrasting the size of groups or sets.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "smaller in number" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating a reduced quantity or count, confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns, opting for alternatives like "fewer in quantity" when appropriate. Ludwig's examples reveal its effective use in factual comparisons across diverse subjects. It functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying nouns and providing factual context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fewer in quantity

Focuses on the reduced amount or extent rather than a direct count.

Less numerous

Emphasizes a reduced frequency or abundance.

Lower in count

Directly indicates a decreased numerical value.

Diminished in quantity

Highlights the process of decreasing in amount.

Reduced in size

Shifts the focus to physical dimension, metaphorical size, or scope.

A minority

Emphasizes being a smaller group compared to a larger one.

Outnumbered

Focuses on the condition of being fewer than another group.

Less profuse

Highlights a reduced abundance or lavishness.

More limited

Focuses on restriction and scarcity in comparison.

Scarcer

Highlights the limited availability or rarity.

FAQs

How do I use "smaller in number" in a sentence?

Use "smaller in number" to compare the quantity of one group to another. For example, "The students in the advanced class were "smaller in number" than those in the introductory class."

What's a good alternative to "smaller in number"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "fewer in quantity", "less numerous", or "lower in count" as alternatives.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less in number" instead of "smaller in number"?

While some may use "less in number" colloquially, "smaller in number" is generally considered more grammatically correct because it refers to countable items. It is often preferable to use "fewer in quantity".

In what contexts is "smaller in number" most appropriate?

"Smaller in number" is suitable in contexts where you're comparing distinct, countable entities such as groups of people, items, or events. It works well in formal writing and presentations where precise comparisons are necessary.