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

[hirashin]

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]

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).

 

[Lomaster]

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]

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]

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

 

[ewww]

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]

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]

Educated users uses "Flat' before Earth