too small

USAGE SUMMARY

"too small" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe anything that is not quite big enough to fulfill a desired purpose. Example: "This room is too small for a family of five."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Syria is too small.

The New York Times

Too small, critics say.

The New York Times

"The world's too small.

The New York Times

None was too small.

The Economist

"This is too small.

The New York Times - Sports

None is too small.

The New York Times

It's too small".

The New York Times

Venter's thinking too small.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I was too small.

The New York Times - Sports

Is it too small?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Korea had become too small.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too small" to clearly indicate that something does not meet the required or expected size for a specific purpose. Ensure the context makes it clear what the standard or requirement is. For example, "This box is "too small" to fit the book".

Common error

Avoid using "too small" without providing context about what it's being compared to. Saying "That's "too small"" without specifying what 'that' is or what it needs to be larger than leaves the statement vague and unhelpful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too small" functions primarily as a predicative adjective. It typically modifies a noun to indicate that it does not meet a required or expected size. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples where "too small" describes physical objects or abstract concepts deemed insufficient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "too small" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is inadequate in size for a particular purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "insufficient in size" or "not big enough" exist, "too small" offers a direct and easily understandable way to convey deficiency in size. Remember to provide context when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity, as merely stating something is "too small" without specifying what it's being compared to can lead to confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not big enough

Simple and direct alternative, emphasizing the lack of required size.

smaller than necessary

Highlights that the size is less than what is needed for a particular purpose.

insufficient in size

Replaces "too small" with a more formal and descriptive term highlighting the lack of adequate dimensions.

somewhat undersized

A more nuanced way of saying something is slightly smaller than desired.

under the required size

Focuses on the deficiency relative to a specific requirement or standard.

lacking sufficient scale

Emphasizes the deficiency in overall magnitude or extent.

of inadequate dimensions

A more technical and precise way of expressing the lack of sufficient size.

miniature in scale

Emphasizes that something is significantly reduced in size.

on the petite side

A more gentle and indirect way of describing something that is smaller than average.

compact

Suggests a small size that is efficiently arranged or designed.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "too small" in a sentence?

The phrase "too small" is used to indicate that something is not large enough for a particular purpose. For example, "This shirt is "too small" for me" or "The font size is "too small" to read easily".

What are some alternatives to saying "too small"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "insufficient in size", "not big enough", or "undersized".

Is it grammatically correct to say "too small of a"?

While not incorrect, using "too small of a" can sound awkward. It's generally better to say "too small a" or simply "too small". For example, instead of "too small of a box", say "too small a box" or "too small a box".

What's the difference between "too small" and "very small"?

"Too small" implies that something is not adequate for a specific purpose or requirement. "Very small", on the other hand, simply describes the size without necessarily implying inadequacy. For example, "This apartment is very small", but "This apartment is "too small" for a family of four".