smaller than twice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller than twice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in mathematical or comparative contexts to describe a quantity that is less than double another quantity. Example: "The number of apples I have is smaller than twice the number of oranges."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

It is obviously expected that the etching process would dissolve completely all silicon grains having a size dimension smaller than twice of the SiNW height.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Of the approximate 265 Kepler planets represented on the graph, about 140 were labeled "like Earth," that is, having a radius smaller than twice Earth's radius.

Science Magazine

The sensing performance of the close-type NiO was superior to the other, which benefits from the following factors: In the close-type nanoflower, (1) the architecture is more porous and closer; (2) more nanojunctions between adjacent nanosheets are formed; (3) abundant micro reaction rooms are assembled by nanosheets; (4) the thickness of nanosheets are much smaller than twice Debye length.

Materials Letters

We have deliberately ignored that the mass difference between two measured peaks in ({mathcal{D}}) may be smaller than twice the chosen mass accuracy; in this case, two peaks would be assigned the same molecular formula in the fragmentation graph and, possibly, also the maximum colorful subtree, violating our condition that all nodes have to be different molecular formulas.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Six of the candidates in this zone are smaller than twice the size of Earth.

Wikipedia

Therefore, highest accuracy errors were measured for vessels that were smaller than twice the minimum voxel.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The driving-point admittance due to the local reaction is larger than the admittance due to the tranverse wave when the diameter of the indenter is smaller than about twice the thickness of the plate.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This value is more than twice smaller than for the pure L-CVD SnO2 thin films after similar long-term aging [7] and subsequent UHV annealing.

Nanoscale Research Letters

For the SOD activity, NSV patients showed a value (21.44 ± 18.02 U/mg) more than twice smaller than that of healthy women.

BioMed Research International

As yields on 10-year Treasury securities fell from 1991 through 1993, small stocks gained more than twice as much as the S.& P. 500 did.

The New York Times

Astronomers have detected a small world (inset) more than twice as remote as Pluto, lying 12 billion kilometers, or 83 AU, from the sun.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smaller than twice", ensure the context clearly defines what the comparison is being made to. For example, specify 'smaller than twice the original size' for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "smaller than twice" without clearly indicating what it's being compared to. For example, don't say 'the object is smaller than twice' without specifying 'smaller than twice the standard size'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller than twice" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. It quantifies something's size or amount in relation to another quantity, indicating that it's less than double that quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "smaller than twice" is a grammatically correct comparative phrase used to indicate that one quantity is less than double another. Ludwig AI confirms this. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, highlighting its utility in making precise comparisons. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what the comparison is being made to. Alternative phrases include "less than double" or "not exceeding twice", which provide similar meanings with slight variations in tone and emphasis. Avoid using the phrase in vague contexts without a clear reference point for the comparison. Remember to differentiate it from phrases like "more than twice smaller", which has the opposite meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than double

This alternative uses 'double' instead of 'twice' to convey the same meaning with a slightly simpler term.

less than two times

This variation uses 'times' to convey multiplication, offering a straightforward alternative.

not exceeding twice

This alternative uses a more formal tone, specifying an upper limit without surpassing it.

not as much as double

This rephrasing provides a more emphatic way to state that the quantity is definitely less than double.

not reaching twice

This phrasing emphasizes that the quantity does not reach the threshold of being twice another value.

under twofold

This phrase employs 'fold' to indicate multiplication, offering a compact way to express the relationship.

smaller than twofold

Similar to 'under twofold', this uses 'fold' but maintains the comparison to being 'smaller'.

under twice the amount

This alternative specifies 'amount', making it appropriate when dealing with quantities or volumes.

below twice the size of

This option explicitly mentions 'size', making it suitable for contexts where physical dimensions are relevant.

inferior to twice

This option uses 'inferior' to emphasize the lower magnitude, suitable for formal contexts.

FAQs

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

You can use "smaller than twice" to compare a value to another. For example, "The radius of the new planet is "smaller than twice" the radius of Earth".

What's an alternative to "smaller than twice"?

Alternatives include "less than double", "not exceeding twice", or "under twofold". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Which is correct, "smaller than twice" or "less than twice"?

Both "smaller than twice" and "less than twice" are grammatically correct and can often be used interchangeably. "Smaller than twice" emphasizes size, while "less than twice" is more general and applies to any quantity.

Is "more than twice smaller" the same as "smaller than twice"?

No, "more than twice smaller" means the quantity is significantly smaller (at least by a factor of two), whereas "smaller than twice" simply means it's less than double. They have opposite meanings.