smaller than one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller than one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in mathematical or comparative contexts to describe a quantity that is less than one. Example: "The result of the calculation was smaller than one, indicating a negative growth rate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, there are many regions where the RPC is significantly smaller than one, especially on longer time scales.

Geophysical Research Letters

The difference between male and female is smaller than one might think--at least on a cellular level.

Science Magazine

The number is smaller than one might expect.

The New York Times

The cut in education spending, the campaign insisted, was smaller than one proposed by President Clinton.

The New York Times

When this number is much smaller than one, we can use a technique called perturbation theory to get our results.

The Guardian

This doesn't even take into account the millions of pieces of debris that are smaller than one centimetre.

The New Yorker

An additional 9.9% were smaller than one euro per-capita.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

All remaining factors exhibit eigenvalues smaller than one.

IZA Journal of Migration

This isto avoid making cwnd be smaller than one segment.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The restriction that the derivative of the time-varying delay is smaller than one is removed.

Fuzzy Sets and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

By using our new impedance matching circuit, we can reduce the total antenna size much smaller than one-wavelength.

AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smaller than one" in technical writing, ensure the units of measurement are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The error rate was smaller than one percent."

Common error

Avoid using "smaller than one" when you actually mean a negative value. While a negative number is technically smaller than one, this phrase is typically used for positive fractions or decimals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller than one" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to describe a noun (often a quantity, value, or measurement) and indicate that it is less than the numerical value of one. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

79%

News & Media

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smaller than one" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that a value is less than a single unit. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in scientific, technical, and mathematical writing. While alternatives such as "less than one" or "below one" exist, "smaller than one" provides a clear and direct way to convey the intended meaning. Remember to clearly define the units being measured and avoid using this phrase to imply negative values unless explicitly intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than unity

Replaces "one" with "unity", a more formal mathematical term.

below one

Uses a simpler preposition to indicate a value under one.

under one

Similar to "below one" but with a slightly different connotation.

a value below one

Rephrases to emphasize the numerical value being described.

a number less than one

More explicit and detailed rephrasing.

a quantity below one

Highlights the concept of quantity being less than the unit.

a fraction

Indicates a value that is part of a whole, implicitly less than one.

a proportion less than one

Implies a ratio or percentage.

a decimal less than one

Specifically refers to decimal numbers that are less than the integer one.

less than a whole

Emphasizes that the quantity is not a complete unit.

FAQs

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

You can use "smaller than one" to indicate a quantity or value that is less than the integer one. For example, "The probability of success is "smaller than one", indicating a low likelihood of the event occurring."

What are some alternatives to saying "smaller than one"?

You can use alternatives like "less than one", "below one", or "a fraction" depending on the specific context. Each of these alternatives conveys the idea of a value that is not a whole unit.

Is it correct to say "smaller than one"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a value that is less than one. Other phrases like "less than one" or "below one" are also acceptable and may be preferred in certain contexts.

In what contexts is "smaller than one" typically used?

"Smaller than one" is often used in mathematical, scientific, and statistical contexts to describe probabilities, ratios, or other values that fall between zero and one. For example, in statistics, a p-value "smaller than one" indicates statistical significance.