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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Small or smaller

Which is correct:

This is an example of our city on a small/smaller scale.

This is an example of farming on a small/ smaller scale.

Are both correct or is there a preference. Please advice or provide example if necessary.
  

Top answer

Use "small" if you are talking in absolute terms; use "smaller" if you are comparing with something else.

— GPY

  • Use "small" if you are talking in absolute terms; use "smaller" if you are comparing with something else.
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8 Answers
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Use "small" if you are talking in absolute terms; use "smaller" if you are comparing with something else.
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Thanks. Would you please give me examples for both?
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AnonymousThanks. Would you please give me examples for both?
Both your original sentences are examples.
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Ok thanks. So Iam assuming that for the first example I should use smaller and the second smaller. Right?

Also, I have another question. Is there a difference between:
Can't you take a joke.
Can't you handle a joke.

Thanks!
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AnonymousOk thanks. So Iam assuming that for the first example I should use smaller and the second smaller. Right?
No, you can use either word in either sentence. In order to use "smaller" in the second sentence, there needs to be some additional context to explain what is being compared.
AnonymousAlso, I have another question. Is
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Ok, thanks. Then what you mean by use small when talking about obsolete terms and smaller when comparing and both my sentences work. Please show how using my sentences.
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Anonymousobsolete terms
No obsolete but absolute. In other words, use "smaller" when you want to compare with something else, and "small" when you do not. I cannot think of any simpler way to explain it.
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