smaller than a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller than a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing a time period that is less than ten years to a decade. Example: "The project is expected to be completed in a timeframe smaller than a decade, which is quite ambitious."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Since observed chorus sizes are now on average an order of magnitude smaller than a decade to three decades ago [23], [30], B. houstonensis serves as a particularly relevant anuran species for evaluation of Allee effects generally.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Although the shark-watching industry at Ningaloo is small, and less than a decade old, it is profitable.

The Economist

Mrs. Thatcher suffered several small strokes more than a decade earlier, canceled all her speaking engagements in 2003 and largely withdrew from public life.

The New York Times

Mr. Ellis, above, has been composing successfully on a smaller scale for more than a decade.

The New York Times

Consumer prices rose by 2.5% in the year to March, the smallest increase for more than a decade.

The Economist

Only about 70 executives are expected to be promoted to partner this week, the smallest number in more than a decade, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The New York Times

The magazine and the small group lasted less than a decade, yet, it had an effect that that was far out of proportion to its size and its tenure.

The New Yorker

Its handset business has slumped in size from a peak in the third quarter of 2010, with revenues of €7.2bn, to just €2.72bn in the second quarter of this year, its smallest size in more than a decade.

The Guardian - Tech

According to its own investigations, GM had been aware of issues with ignition switches on Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade before they started issuing recalls.

The Guardian - Business

First, the number of incident cases of CHD and stroke events was relatively small, even with more than a decade's follow up, which would reduce the power to detect the subtle differences between common and internal carotid artery IMT and make the relative risk estimation unstable.

Plosone

Even with measurements made on a relatively small strain rate range (smaller than 1 decade), we highlighted how much the necking phenomenon depends on the strain rate.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "smaller than a decade", ensure the context clearly defines what is being compared. For instance, "The project's timeline is smaller than a decade, making it an ambitious undertaking".

Common error

Avoid using "smaller than a decade" when the reference point is ambiguous. Instead of saying, "The impact was smaller than a decade", clarify: "The impact was smaller than what a decade of investment would typically yield".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller than a decade" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, describing a duration of time. It modifies an implied or stated noun, indicating that the timeframe is less than ten years. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smaller than a decade" serves as a comparative measure of time, indicating a duration less than ten years. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, the expression finds relevance across diverse contexts, including science, news, and business. Alternative phrases such as "less than ten years" offer equivalent clarity. It's crucial to maintain a clear reference when employing this comparative, ensuring the context elucidates the comparison being made.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than ten years

Directly specifies the duration, avoiding the term 'decade'.

under a decade

Uses 'under' to indicate a shorter duration than a decade.

shorter than ten years

Emphasizes the brevity of the time period.

within a decade

Focuses on completion or occurrence within a ten-year timeframe.

before a decade passes

Highlights the urgency or timeliness before a decade is complete.

not a full decade

Indicates incompleteness or a fraction of a decade.

less than a ten-year period

More formal phrasing specifying the time frame.

a sub-decade period

Uses 'sub-' to denote a time period smaller than a decade.

in under ten years

Informal phrasing emphasizing the time constraint.

within the next nine years

More precise about the maximum duration.

FAQs

How can I use "smaller than a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "smaller than a decade" to indicate a time period of less than ten years. For example: "The company achieved significant growth in a period "smaller than a decade"".

What is a common alternative to "smaller than a decade"?

A common alternative is "less than a decade", which provides a direct and easily understandable comparison.

Is "smaller than a decade" more formal or informal?

"Smaller than a decade" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although phrases like "less than ten years" might be preferred in more formal writing.

When is it appropriate to use "smaller than a decade" versus "shorter than a decade"?

Both "smaller than a decade" and "shorter than a decade" are acceptable. "Smaller" emphasizes the extent or scope of the time period, while "shorter" directly addresses the length. Choose the term that best fits the specific context and desired emphasis.