twice as small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "twice as small" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase implies that something has reduced in size so that it is now half of its original size. For example: "The new apartment was twice as small as her previous home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Our guys are twice as small as them.

The Guardian - Sport

The cop stood in my kitchen, making it look twice as small.

The Washington Post

The measured temperature gradients in the heat exchangers are twice as small as predicted by a one-dimensional heat exchange model of the microchannels.

Chemical Engineering Journal

"You take odds that were really, really small before, and now they're nearly twice as small as they were before," he said.

The Guardian

Every car within the transmission range, represented by, (which is usually twice as small as the interference range) will receive the message with probability.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The percentage of the total error (as total variance) attributed to BEF model for stem wood and stem is more than twice as small as that attributed to regression model.

Forest Ecosystems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In the solution containing VNPs MB complexes, the relative intensity of the 7-hydroxycoumarin band was about twice as smaller as compared to that in the solution containing VNPs that points to the less effective OH· radicals production (Fig. 3).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Even though small deletions were twice as large as small insertions, small insertions occurred six times more frequently resulting in a net gain of 340 bp across the genome across all MA lines.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Most striking is the variation in bill size, which does not vary geographically, but is bimodally distributed in many parts of the range, with large-billed and small-billed individuals (large bills twice as big as small ones) in both sexes and all ages.

Cornell University

In an extraordinary series of photographs of Gordon Brown's last moments at No 10 by the Guardian's Martin Argles, Andrew Adonis appears twice: as a small, pale visage peering over Peter Mandelson's shoulder at the Browns and their children taking their leave, and earlier, while the inner circle waited for Nick Clegg's final decision.

The Guardian

Ten years and $100,000 later, he's amassed 12 pre-ban bottles of absinthe and twice as many small vials of the liquid tapped from other bottles.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "twice as small", ensure the context clearly indicates what the comparison is being made to. For example, "The new box is "twice as small" as the old one."

Common error

A common mistake is not clearly stating what the item is "twice as small" compared to, leading to ambiguity. Always specify the point of reference to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "twice as small" functions as an adverbial phrase of comparison, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the degree to which something is smaller than something else. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "twice as small" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express that something is half the size of something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's utilized across varied sources, from news media to scientific publications, with a neutral register. To ensure clarity, always specify the point of comparison when using this phrase. While alternatives like "half the size" exist, "twice as small" offers a concise and widely accepted way to convey a proportional size relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half the size

Expresses the same size relationship but uses a fraction instead of a multiplier.

reduced by half

Focuses on the action of reducing the size.

half as big

A more informal way of expressing the same size relationship.

significantly smaller

Indicates a substantial size difference without specifying the exact ratio.

considerably smaller

Similar to "significantly smaller", emphasizing a notable difference in size.

a fraction of the size

Emphasizes that something is much smaller than the original.

substantially smaller

Highlights the significance of the size reduction.

markedly smaller

Emphasizes that the size difference is easily noticeable.

much tinier

A more informal and emphatic way of saying something is much smaller.

decreased in size by 50%

Expresses the size reduction as a percentage.

FAQs

How can I use "twice as small" in a sentence?

Use "twice as small" to indicate that something's size is half the size of something else. For example, "This room is "twice as small" as the living room".

What's an alternative to saying "twice as small"?

You can use alternatives like "half the size", "half as big", or "significantly smaller" depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it correct to say "twice smaller" instead of "twice as small"?

While "twice smaller" might be understood, it's not grammatically standard. "Twice as small" is the correct and more widely accepted phrase.

How does "twice as small" compare to "twice as large"?

"Twice as small" indicates something is half the size, while "twice as large" means something is double the size. They are opposite in meaning.