a mere fifth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere fifth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the insignificance or smallness of a quantity, often in comparison to something larger or more substantial. Example: "The project was completed with a mere fifth of the budget we initially planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The city got a mere fifth of its desperately needed windfall.

The Guardian

The Nikkei 225 trades at a mere fifth of its high in 1989.Ten-year 1989.Ten-yearnd yields peaked in Japan in 1990 at 8.4%.

The Economist

The €55bn railway refit is a mere fifth of the €264.5bn investment programme announced by transport minister Alexander Dobrindt in March to upgrade Germany's autobahns, railways and waterways.

The Guardian

The majority of the country's health budget is being lavished on institutions that affect a mere fifth of the… you know… the determinants of the healthy thing.

The Guardian - Opinion

The quality of the education those children received was often dismal, dictated by the fact that a mere fifth of teachers were qualified to teach.

The Guardian

It's interesting to note their frustration with the lack of progress of voluntary approaches, which are supported by a mere fifth of respondents.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The Olympic-scale margin: a mere tenth of a degree.

The New York Times

And dry land is a mere third of the Earth's surface.

The Economist

The population fell sharply to 722,000 in 1920, a mere third of the pre-Revolutionary size.

Britannica

Turnout in the byelection was miserably low: a mere third of eligible voters took part.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unsurprisingly, "vomit" is understood by 98% of people, but "orally" by a mere third.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mere fifth" to highlight the insignificance of a quantity when comparing it to a larger whole, creating emphasis through understatement. For example, "A mere fifth of the applicants were selected for the final interview."

Common error

Avoid using "a mere fifth" when the actual quantity is substantial or significant in its own right, as it can undermine the intended message. Using it to describe something like "a mere fifth of the population" when that represents millions of people would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere fifth" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, emphasizing the small proportion represented by one-fifth. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys a sense of insignificance or unexpectedly small quantity. It is used to diminish or downplay the amount being referred to.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mere fifth" is a phrase used to emphasize the smallness or insignificance of a quantity. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When employing this phrase, ensure that it aligns with your intended tone and the context to avoid misleading your audience. Remember to consider alternatives like "only a fifth" or "just a fifth" for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only a fifth

Replaces "mere" with "only", emphasizing the small quantity without necessarily implying insignificance.

just a fifth

Uses "just" to downplay the quantity, similar to "only" but with a slightly more casual tone.

barely a fifth

Uses "barely" to suggest that the amount only just reaches the specified fraction.

a scant fifth

Emphasizes the lack or insufficiency of the amount.

a small fraction

Substitutes the specific fraction with a general term for a small amount.

a paltry fifth

Uses "paltry" to suggest the amount is contemptibly small or worthless.

a tiny portion

Highlights the extremely small size of the part being considered.

a fractional part

Replaces "fifth" with a more general term, indicating any small, divided portion.

a negligible fraction

Emphasizes that the fraction is so small it's practically unimportant.

a trifling amount

Indicates the amount is insignificant or not worth considering.

FAQs

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

Use "a mere fifth" to emphasize the smallness or insignificance of a portion compared to the whole. For example, "A mere fifth of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What can I say instead of "a mere fifth"?

You can use alternatives like "only a fifth", "just a fifth", or "a small fraction" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a mere fifth"?

No, it's not always appropriate. Use "a mere fifth" when you want to emphasize how surprisingly small something is in relation to a larger amount. If the quantity is already understood to be substantial, using this phrase might be misleading.

What's the difference between "a mere fifth" and "a significant fifth"?

"A mere fifth" emphasizes the smallness or unimportance of the portion, while "a significant fifth" emphasizes that the portion, even though it's only a fifth, is important or impactful. The choice depends on the message you want to convey.