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Thread: less bigger??

  1. #11
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    Default Re: less bigger??

    Sally is a big girl. Jane is less big, but she's still too big to ride this bicycle.
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  2. #12
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    Default Re: less bigger??

    Quote Originally Posted by HanibalII View Post
    On the note of less big however, I would recommend replacing 'less big' with smaller, as it does sound much more natural. .
    'Smaller' is generally more appropriate, and is certainly far more common. However, in a couple of the COCA citation, 'smaller' not be more natural.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  3. #13
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: less bigger??

    There are 12 citations, so it's uncommon, but would you recommend that a poet, for instance, didn't use it? The odd and the unusual can sound great in the right hands. I would recommend smaller to most learners, but I wouldn't always do it.
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