while comparatively small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while comparatively small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the size of one thing to another, indicating that it is smaller in relation to something else. Example: "The budget for this project is, while comparatively small, sufficient to achieve our goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

These police forces, while comparatively small in number, are regarded as an important stopgap to secure remote corners of Afghanistan as international troops withdraw.

The New York Times

That said, in the first two months after Sony began selling a DVD remote-control add-on, the company claims to have sold "tens of thousands" to an installed base of roughly 5m consoles.While comparatively small, this number suggests that at least some people are using their PS2s as secondary DVD players.For Xbox, providing DVD playback added little or no cost to the console itself.

The Economist

A half-hour went by and my progress – while comparatively small – was evident.

BBC

While comparatively small next to Silicon Valley or New York, the "Silicon Hills" have one of the most tightly-knit and collaborative of any I've experienced.

TechCrunch

Kobo is about to launch their new Vox ereader/tablet and I think it's important to remember that the reader race isn't just down to two contestants: this Canadian company, while comparatively small in the US, is performing quite admirably on the international stage, hitting 2.5 million users in the US and over 5 million total in the world.

TechCrunch

Nurse migration from these countries, while comparatively small, is rising.

Human Resources for Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Public transport is poor and even recent initiatives such as a trans-Jakarta bus lane are inefficient and even contribute to the problem by clogging intersections and reducing road space while moving comparatively small numbers of people.

BBC

Most of these new tasks were added on to the work of family planning workers while a comparatively small set of tasks was assigned to workers of the Health Directorate.

Human Resources for Health

Non-linear coupling with extensional motions reduces peak flexural strain while extensional strain remains comparatively small.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

For a protein of 300 amino acids with random changes in just 1, 2 or 3 amino acids in the whole protein this is 5700, ca. 16 million and ca. 30 billion, while even for a comparatively small protein of N = 100 amino acids, the number of variants exceeds 10 when M = 10.

Chemical Society Reviews

While they may represent a comparatively small percentage of Uber's overall employee base, presumably these are fairly key employees, too, given their institutional knowledge of Uber.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while comparatively small" to acknowledge a limitation or small size while still emphasizing its relevance or impact in a specific context. This phrase works well when contrasting with something larger or more significant.

Common error

Avoid using "while comparatively small" when there isn't a clear point of comparison. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a difference in scale or impact between two things.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while comparatively small" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by expressing a condition or concession. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and used to present a contrast, acknowledging a smaller size or scope while maintaining relevance. Examples show its use in varied contexts, such as describing army sizes or project progress.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "while comparatively small" is a grammatically correct and useful construction in English for acknowledging limitations while emphasizing relevance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It functions as an adverbial phrase that qualifies a statement by introducing a concession. As seen in numerous examples, it often appears in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts, lending itself well to objective, analytical writing. Although not exceedingly common, understanding its correct usage can add nuance to your writing, particularly when comparing entities of differing scales. Using "although relatively minor" can be useful alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

although relatively minor

Emphasizes the small degree or extent, similar to "comparatively small".

notwithstanding being reasonably small

Acknowledges the small size while introducing a contrasting element.

even though somewhat limited

Highlights the constraint or restriction in size or scope.

albeit modestly scaled

Uses 'modestly scaled' to indicate a restrained or limited scale.

whilst being reasonably insignificant

Implies a degree of unimportance or negligibility.

despite being fairly diminutive

Uses 'diminutive' to underscore the small size or scale.

though moderately reduced

Focuses on the reduction in size or impact.

while remaining reasonably understated

Highlights the understated nature of something in comparison to something else.

however subtly restricted

Suggests a subtle or understated limitation.

even if somewhat marginal

Emphasizes that something is only slightly important or relevant.

FAQs

How can I use "while comparatively small" in a sentence?

You can use "while comparatively small" to acknowledge that something is smaller or less significant than something else, but still relevant or important. For example, "While comparatively small, the budget was sufficient to complete the project."

What phrases are similar to "while comparatively small"?

Similar phrases include "although relatively minor", "even though somewhat limited", and "notwithstanding being reasonably small".

Is it grammatically correct to use "while comparatively small"?

Yes, "while comparatively small" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English to indicate that something is relatively small compared to something else.

In what contexts is "while comparatively small" most appropriate?

"While comparatively small" is suitable in contexts where you want to acknowledge a small size or scope while also highlighting its impact or relevance. It's often used in formal writing, news articles, and scientific reports.