a mere adjustment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere adjustment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant change or modification in a situation or process. Example: "The changes to the schedule were just a mere adjustment, not a complete overhaul."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The change in the number is more than a mere adjustment in a dispassionate tally.

The New York Times

The risk is that ethics may become a mere adjustment parameter and not an essential element in the elaboration and implementation of ethic-certified recommendations.

Éthique & Santé

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

WHAT'S most remarkable about the faces in these turn-of-the-20th-century New York police photographs is that many -- with the simple addition of a baseball cap or the mere adjustment of a hairstyle -- would not look out of place on the city's streets today.

The New York Times

This is no mere adjustment of a reputation but a deep shift in how we identify and value visual art... Writer describes the artist's work, suggesting that he invented Middle America... Writer dismisses several reasons to despair of Rockwell's art... Rockwell is sentimental, but his ruling sentiments are far from trivial.

The New Yorker

Writing it down is a mere accounting adjustment, bosses tend to say.

The Economist

Hungarian government spokespeople generate a public relations fog to disguise a major step backwards from the rule of law as a mere technical adjustment.

The New York Times

One concerns the mere adjustment to social and cultural climate, as experienced at two different types of institutions: "There is an adjustment to two vastly different environments.

CBE Life Sciences Education

With those, the second model fared better, but beyond mere adjustment issues, several paths lacked statistical significance at the 0.05 level and were candidates for further trimming.

BMC Public Health

Lightpath bundling (LB) and anycast (AS) switching are combined in SR VTCA operation to advertise lightpath additions/removals to the IP layer as mere adjustments (increments or decrements) in the capacity, allowing to keep the IP routing stable, and thus, simplifying control plane operations.

Optical Switching and Networking

Compared with that, an adjustment to the yuan would seem a mere detail.In this effort, so far Mr Zhu appears to be faring quite well.

The Economist

The company added a mere 4 million new monthly active users in the quarter, which is an adjustment that it will likely explain on its earnings call.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mere adjustment" when you want to downplay the significance of a change or modification. It's effective in contexts where you need to reassure the audience that the change isn't drastic or disruptive.

Common error

Avoid using "a mere adjustment" when the change is actually substantial or has significant implications. Using it in such cases can mislead your audience and damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere adjustment" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It emphasizes the limited scope or impact of a change, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mere adjustment" is a phrase used to describe a small or insignificant change. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as exemplified by its usage in news, scientific publications, and general discourse. While not exceedingly common, the phrase effectively downplays the importance of a modification, making it a useful tool in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight modification

Emphasizes the small degree of change involved.

a minor alteration

Highlights the insignificance of the change made.

a simple tweak

Suggests an easy and uncomplicated adjustment.

a negligible change

Underscores that the change is so small it's practically unnoticeable.

a cosmetic fix

Implies the adjustment only improves appearance, not substance.

a superficial adjustment

Highlights that the adjustment is shallow and doesn't address core issues.

a marginal difference

Focuses on the minimal impact the adjustment has.

a token gesture

Implies the adjustment is made more for appearances than genuine effect.

an inconsequential variation

Stresses the lack of importance of the difference.

a small correction

Emphasizes fixing errors or inaccuracies, on a small scale.

FAQs

How can I use "a mere adjustment" in a sentence?

You can use "a mere adjustment" to describe a small or insignificant change, such as, "The shift in strategy was "a mere adjustment" to the existing plan".

What are some alternatives to "a mere adjustment"?

Alternatives include "a slight modification", "a minor alteration", or "a simple tweak". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a mere adjustment"?

It's appropriate when the change is genuinely small and doesn't fundamentally alter the situation. Using it otherwise could be misleading.

Is "a mere adjustment" formal or informal?

The phrase is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it leans slightly towards the formal side due to the word "mere".