word choice - Higher, greater or bigger distance?


Which of the following is most correct?



The distance of the shortest path must not be higher than 10km.
The distance of the shortest path must not be greater than 10km.
The distance of the shortest path must not be bigger than 10km.



Or is there an even better word?



Answer



As height is not being mentioned here, but rather distance on a horizontal scale, "higher" would be inappropriate.


"Bigger" refers to size, not magnitude, and therefore, in this case, is also inappropriate. It's inappropriate because "distance" cannot be measured in size, but in magnitude. "Great length" not "big length".


That leaves, "greater" which is correct.


A better phrasing could be:



The distance of the shortest path must not be more than 10km.



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