smaller separation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller separation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are comparing distances or gaps, indicating that one separation is less than another. Example: "The new design features a smaller separation between the components, allowing for a more compact assembly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

For smaller separation angles the accuracy decreases dramatically.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Generally, accuracy improves when targets put vertical, close to observers' position and smaller separation of targets.

Displays

The smaller separation leads to an increased field enhancement due to the larger near field provided by the bigger size particle at this distance.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Partitioning the separation channel into many smaller separation zones using electrode pairs can lower the applied voltage but maintain electric field strength to separate the samples.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

The smaller separation between consecutive energy levels (ΔE) in the annealed QDs cause loss of carriers from lower (lasing) energy states to higher energy states, reducing the net gain available from these states.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The heterogeneity model significantly underestimates as a d t 4−3 value that is less than half of the observations, mostly because of the smaller separation of the CMB piercing points (Fig. 10a).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Higher correlations are found for smaller separations, especially in the northern hemisphere.

Earth, Planets and Space

Oxygen breakthrough is more susceptible for smaller separations and the combustion zone is reduced in length.

Energy

Similar to the results of motion direction judgments, the researchers found the smaller separations between the line and a circle to be overestimated and suggested that such repulsion is a general phenomenon [48], [49].

Plosone

In comparison, distance judgment in peripheral encoding condition is significantly overestimated for smaller separations and becomes similar to the performance in foveal trials for distances from 10 to 16 degrees.

Plosone

Since the interparticle distance is determined by the thickness of the PNIPAM shell, larger or smaller separations are achievable through tuning the polymer thickness.

ACS Nano

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical arrangements, use "smaller separation" to emphasize a reduction in distance. For abstract contexts, consider alternatives like "reduced interval" or "closer alignment."

Common error

Avoid using "smaller separation" when describing abstract concepts that don't involve physical distance. Instead of saying "there's a smaller separation between their views", opt for "their views are more closely aligned" or "there's less divergence in their views."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller separation" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "smaller" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "separation". It describes the extent of the distance or space between two or more things. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in scientific and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

95%

News & Media

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smaller separation" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term, particularly in scientific and technical writing, to describe a reduced physical distance between objects. Ludwig's analysis reveals that its primary function is to describe and quantify distances, often in experimental or observational contexts. While generally formal, it's important to avoid overuse in non-spatial or abstract situations, where alternatives like "closer alignment" are more appropriate. The provided usage examples and the positive assessment from Ludwig AI confirm its acceptability in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrower gap

Emphasizes the reduction in the space between two entities.

reduced distance

Highlights the diminished length separating two points.

closer proximity

Indicates that objects are situated nearer to each other.

tighter spacing

Suggests a more compact arrangement with less space in between.

decreased interval

Focuses on the shortening of the space or time between two events or objects.

minimized gap

Implies the space has been reduced to its lowest possible value.

compact arrangement

Describes a dense and space-efficient configuration.

close configuration

Suggests items positioned in near vicinity of each other.

reduced clearance

Highlights reduced space or permission to pass between objects.

lesser interval

Highlights the shortening of space, duration, or quantity between two points or events.

FAQs

How can I use "smaller separation" in a sentence?

You can use "smaller separation" to describe a reduced physical distance between objects, like: "The new design features a "narrower gap" between the components."

What are some alternatives to saying "smaller separation"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "reduced distance", "closer proximity", or "tighter spacing".

In what contexts is "smaller separation" most appropriate?

"Smaller separation" is generally used in technical or scientific contexts to describe physical arrangements. It may not be suitable for describing abstract concepts; in those cases, use alternatives like "closer alignment".

Is there a difference between "smaller separation" and "small separation"?

"Smaller separation" implies a comparison to a previous or standard separation, indicating a reduction. "Small separation" simply indicates that the separation is not large, without necessarily implying a change.