smaller than for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller than for" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to compare sizes or quantities, but it lacks context to be usable. Example: "The size of the new model is smaller than for the previous version."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This propagation term is smaller than for alpha helices.

Polymer

However, the magnitude of this preference was smaller than for CCKBCs.

Stanford University

However, both were significantly smaller than for the isolated 20/200 E (1.80 D).

Vision Research

The report discusses the fact that this is smaller than for other forms of power generation.

The Economist

Crowds for his recent fast were far smaller than for his campaigns in 2011.

The New York Times

The stemflow generating rainfall thresholds for evergreen species were smaller than for deciduous species.

Journal of Hydrology

Thus, the fracture toughness is smaller than for polycrystalline bulk NiAl of stoichiometric composition.

Acta Materialia

For all carbon/electrolyte combinations the expansion during positive charging was smaller than for negative charging.

Carbon

All-Star batters also receive the benefit of the doubt from umpires, but the effect was smaller than for pitchers.

Columbia University

The average prediction is therefore closer to and bias is smaller than for a linear learning method.

Stanford University

'The line between being a hero and a loser is nowhere smaller than for a goalkeeper,' Kahn explains.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "smaller than for" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "less than" or "smaller compared to" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

Common error

Ensure you specify what you are comparing and use precise language; using "smaller than for" can be vague. Instead, clearly state what is being compared, such as "The area is smaller compared to the previous design."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller than for" functions as a comparative, attempting to indicate that one entity is of a lesser size or magnitude compared to another. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect, making it unsuitable for formal writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

38%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "smaller than for" is frequently encountered, particularly in scientific and news contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. For clarity and correctness, it's best to replace it with alternatives like "less than" or "smaller compared to". Although usage is common, particularly from authoritative sources, adhering to grammatical standards is crucial for professional and academic writing. Always aim for precision and clarity in your comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than

Direct comparison of quantity or degree; simpler and more grammatically sound.

smaller compared to

Explicit comparison, suitable for formal contexts.

not as large as

Alternative phrasing emphasizing the size difference.

of a lesser magnitude than

Formal phrasing, suitable for scientific or technical contexts.

lower than

Useful when comparing numerical values or levels.

shorter than

Specific to comparisons involving length or duration.

inferior to

Implies a difference in quality or importance.

reduced compared with

Focuses on the act of reduction relative to something else.

dwarfed by

Figurative language indicating a significant size difference.

miniscule in comparison to

Emphasizes a very small size relative to something larger.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "smaller than for"?

You can use alternatives like "less than", "smaller than", or "smaller compared to" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "smaller compared to" instead of "smaller than for"?

Use "smaller compared to" when you want to explicitly highlight the comparison between two distinct items or values. It provides a clearer and more formal tone than "smaller than for".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "smaller than for" to improve clarity?

Instead of "The new model's screen is smaller than for the previous version", say "The new model's screen is smaller than the screen of the previous version" or "The new model's screen is smaller compared to the previous version's screen".

What's the difference between "less than" and "smaller than for"?

"Less than" is generally used for quantities or values, while "smaller than for" attempts to compare sizes but is grammatically awkward and less precise. Using "less than" offers better clarity and is more grammatically sound.