yet smaller than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "yet smaller than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing sizes or quantities, indicating that one item is smaller than another, while also emphasizing a contrast. Example: "The new model is yet smaller than the previous version, making it more portable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

However, Cantor was unable to prove the so-called continuum hypothesis, which asserts that there is no set that is larger than N yet smaller than the set of its subsets.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The acceleration of the grid transfer operators also yields a benefit, yet smaller than the benefit from the smoother.

Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing

The total length of the resulting contigs was approximately 35.5 Mbp (Table 1), which is roughly similar to the genome size of the basidiomycetous mushroom fungi C. cinerea (37.5 Mbp, Stajich et al. 2010), S. commune (38.5 Mbp, Ohm et al. 2010), and Agaricus bisporus (30.0 Mbp, Morin et al. 2012), yet smaller than that of L. bicolor (60.7 Mbp, Martin et al. 2008).

AMB Express

The AIIB has working capital of $50 billion with potential to go as high as $100 billion -- so it is, as yet, smaller than the U.S.-led Wofld Bank ($2223.2 billion of subscribed capital) or the Asian Development Bank ($162.8 billion of subscribed capital).

Huffington Post

At 632.8nm, it was two times higher than Zhu's data, yet smaller than Arnfield's and Wilson's reported values at 630nm.

Biomedical Optics Express

These studies were carried out on the egg of Xenopus laevis, which at a diameter of 1.2 millimeters is large as a cell and even as an egg, yet smaller than the eggs of many other frog species [ 126].

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Birds in the highlands are therefore characterized by longer wings, tails and tarsi, yet smaller beaks than birds in the lowlands.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Our projections indicate that in communities with only moderate therapeutic coverage of annual CDTI (eg, 60%), efforts to increase the coverage to a higher level (eg, 80%) may have a similar (yet smaller) effect than increasing treatment frequency.

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Yet smaller protests have continued.

The Economist

What they didn't say: In the question and answer session afterward, Buick executives acknowledged modest prospects for the Encore's initial sales in America; the Encore is usefully roomy inside, yet still smaller than any current luxury crossover.

The New York Times

In that case its reciprocal 1/a is infinitesimal in the sense of exceeding 0 and yet being smaller than 1/n+1 for every n ∈ ℕ.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "yet smaller than", ensure the contrast is clear and adds meaningful emphasis to the comparison you're making. This phrase works best when highlighting an unexpected size difference.

Common error

Avoid using "yet smaller than" when the small size is already implied or expected. For instance, saying 'a microbe is yet smaller than an ant' is redundant because microbes are inherently known to be smaller. Use it to highlight surprising or unexpected differences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "yet smaller than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, highlighting a size difference between two entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable. It serves to emphasize that the reduction in size is noteworthy.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "yet smaller than" is a grammatically sound comparative phrase used to emphasize a notable difference in size. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's commonly found in scientific and news contexts, serving to highlight surprising size disparities. When using this phrase, ensure the contrast is meaningful, and avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "even tinier than" or "slightly less than" can be used to adjust the emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even tinier than

Replaces "smaller" with "tinier" for emphasis on a very small size.

slightly less than

Indicates a minimal difference in size or amount.

somewhat smaller than

Indicates a moderate difference in size.

a bit smaller than

Informal way of expressing a slight difference in size.

marginally smaller than

Highlights that the difference in size is very small or almost negligible.

not as large as

Uses a different structure to convey that something is smaller.

of a reduced size compared to

More formal and descriptive way of saying something is smaller.

less extensive than

Applicable when comparing scope or extent rather than physical size.

under the size of

Focuses on a size threshold rather than direct comparison.

smaller in contrast to

Emphasizes the difference in size between the two items being compared.

FAQs

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

Use "yet smaller than" to show that something is not only smaller than something else, but that the difference is perhaps surprising or noteworthy. For example: "The new phone is more powerful, yet "even smaller than" its predecessor."

What does "yet smaller than" imply?

The phrase "yet smaller than" suggests a comparison where the size difference is significant or unexpected, emphasizing a contrast despite the smaller size. It highlights that the item is not just smaller, but surprisingly so, compared to the reference point.

Are there more formal alternatives to "yet smaller than"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "comparatively smaller than", "significantly less than", or "of a reduced size compared to". The choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.

Is it always necessary to use "yet" in "yet smaller than"?

No, the "yet" adds emphasis but isn't always necessary. You can often use "smaller than" without "yet" if the emphasis isn't required. The word “yet” adds contrast, implying that the small size is somewhat surprising or noteworthy.