smaller than planned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller than planned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing outcomes or results that did not meet initial expectations regarding size or quantity. Example: "The final product was smaller than planned, which affected our marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

There is always the tendency that cuts ends up smaller than planned".

The Guardian - Business

Now, the tax cut would most likely be put off until January, city officials said, and even at that point, it might be smaller than planned.

The New York Times

"The catch was smaller than planned due to factors including weather conditions and sabotage acts by activists," an agency official was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

BBC

He's also being refreshingly straight talking, telling me it was always his intention to get 9flats to a certain stage but concedes that the business is smaller than planned.

TechCrunch

The sample size was smaller than planned.

Diabetes Care

For this reason, the number of women was smaller than planned.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

You may also benefit from the £50 cut in energy bills and the scrapping of proposed rises in motor fuel duty and a slightly smaller rise than planned in rail fares.

Independent

These factors include administering too much insulin or insulin-producing medications, delayed or missed meal intake or eating a smaller meal than planned, unplanned strenuous exercise, alcohol consumption, and interactions with other drugs.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

The halt to recruitment resulted in a smaller sample than planned, with more women in the PMU group, due to the initial protocol of not making follow-up calls to those booked into the TMH for the first six months of recruitment.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

When the actual number of patients accrued was a little smaller or larger than planned, the UMVUE still yielded an unbiased estimator of the response rate.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The institutional trader then has no reason to make any trades following his first large trade -- he can now just close his initial large short position at a profit -- a profit on a smaller dollar amount than planned, yet of expected magnitude, and most importantly, guaranteed via the actions of the HFT!

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "smaller than planned" in scientific writing, ensure that you provide specific data or metrics to quantify the difference, enhancing clarity and rigor.

Common error

Avoid using "smaller than planned" as a general qualitative statement without providing context or specific details. Instead, quantify the difference and explain the implications of the reduced size or scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller than planned" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It describes a noun by comparing its current size or scope to a previously established plan or expectation. As Ludwig AI highlights, this is a common way to indicate that an initial target was not met.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "smaller than planned" is a grammatically correct and commonly used comparative phrase indicating that something is less in size or scope than initially intended. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in science and news media. While suitable for general use, providing specific data to quantify the difference enhances clarity. When writing, avoid using it as a vague qualifier and explore related phrases such as "less than anticipated" or "reduced in scope" for nuanced expression. The phrase maintains a neutral register making it adaptable to diverse professional and academic scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than anticipated

Focuses on the expectation being unmet.

below expectations

Highlights the difference between the actual outcome and anticipated performance.

under the initial estimate

Emphasizes a quantitative discrepancy from a preliminary calculation.

reduced in scope

Specifically refers to a decrease in the area or extent of something.

curtailed from the original plan

Indicates a limitation or reduction relative to the initial design.

not as extensive as foreseen

Highlights that something didn't reach the predicted level of comprehensiveness.

of diminished magnitude

Focuses on the degree or intensity being less than expected.

at a reduced scale

Highlights the reduction in the size or extent of something.

scaled down from original projections

Emphasizes the lessening from a previous plan.

smaller than budgeted

Relates the reduced size to budgetary constraints.

FAQs

What does "smaller than planned" mean?

It indicates that something is less in size, quantity, or scope compared to what was initially intended or expected.

How to use "smaller than planned" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe outcomes that deviate from initial projections. For example, "The budget was "smaller than planned", which affected our project scope."

What can I say instead of "smaller than planned"?

You can use alternatives like "less than anticipated", "below expectations", or "reduced in scope" depending on the context. See also "reduced scale".

Is "smaller than planned" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, "smaller than planned" is appropriate for academic writing, but ensure to provide specific data or metrics to support the statement. For better formal alternative you can use "less than anticipated".