The diameter of the sun is (wider/longer/larger/greater) than that of Earth

hirashin

Sempai

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8 Apr 2004

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• 18 Feb 2019

• #1

Dear native English speakers,
I have a little question. Which adjective is correct in this sentence?
The diameter of the sun is more than a hundred times ( wider / longer / larger / greater ) than that of Earth.

Hirashin

 

Lothor

Freelance proofreader

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Ten-year veteran

26 Sep 2015

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• 19 Feb 2019

• #2

Hi Hirashin,

Such sentences are a common problem with the Japanese scientists whose papers I check.
I like 'greater' most but think that 'larger' is acceptable.

I also don't have a problem with Earth rather than 'the Earth' here, unlike Buntaro in a separate thread. In the sentence, it's OK to use Earth as a name (similar to Jupiter), so no article is needed (though an article is not incorrect).

 

Last edited: 19 Feb 2019

Lomaster

.

Ten-year veteran

4 Apr 2014

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• 19 Feb 2019

• #3

Note that "the Sun" is also a name and hence should be written with a capital S as opposed to "a sun" in systems other than Solar.

 

hirashin

Sempai

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8 Apr 2004

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• 19 Feb 2019

• Thread starter
• #4

Thanks for the help, Lothor. Long time no see.

Lomaster, I haven't seen the Sun. In all my dictionaries "the sun" is used.

 

Lomaster

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Ten-year veteran

4 Apr 2014

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• 19 Feb 2019

• #5

it seems you're right. I shouldn't have imagined myself proficient enough to make such remarks.

 

ewww

I am Groot

Rest in Peace

5 Apr 2012

438

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• 20 Feb 2019

• #6

Applying 'wider' to diameter is not correct. You may say that something is wider in diameter, but diameter itself is scalar value, and can not be linearized. The same logic wrork about longer.

So, there are only two options left: larger and greater. I prefer to use larger, but greater is also work.

Never use 'bigger' thou

 

Buntaro

運動不足

Twenty-year veteran

27 Dec 2003

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• 20 Feb 2019

• #7

Must use "the":
the Sun
the Moon

Using "the" is ok: the Earth
No "the" is ok: Earth

Cannot use "the":
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto

 

ewww

I am Groot

Rest in Peace

5 Apr 2012

438

46

• 20 Feb 2019

• #8

Educated users uses "Flat' before Earth