Small and Little

[Bill Palmer]

These two words are nominal synonyms,  but definitely not interchangeable.

If the BP board chairman had referred to the *little people*, it would have just been patronizing, but *small people* is not only that, but weird, too.  Surprisingly inartful word choice for a Swede, most of whom speak English more precisely than native speakers.  

Bill Palmer

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org