a mere increase in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere increase in" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to downplay the significance of an increase in something, suggesting that it is not substantial or noteworthy. Example: "The report indicates that there was a mere increase in sales, which does not reflect the overall market trend."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The present study highlight that, a mere increase in resolution by a way of computationally more expensive statistical downscaling does not necessarily contribute towards improving the signal strength.

Journal of Hydrology

On the other hand, a mere increase in the number of rays entirely contained in the heterogeneous structures affects both the stability and the effective resolution of the results.

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

It is, of course, true that a mere increase in the number of foreign troops in Afghanistan will count for little unless the most careful thought is given to how they should be used.

The New York Times

The clear implication is that a mere increase in the number of hydrogen atoms does not necessarily result in increased H3+ yield as H3+ formation pathways are defined by unique features of the molecular structure, such as the prevalence of α-hydrogen atoms.

Nature

We show that a mere increase in the size of the finite field in network coding, i.e., without incurring additional cost such as boosting the transmit power level, can lead to a substantial gain in the network coverage area.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Let us end with two final remarks: first, our present conclusions could be refined and extended towards larger ODN sizes, by a mere increase in computing power.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

NO sooner had the Labor Department announced that the growth in jobs remained anemic in January, a mere increase of 21,000, than the Democrats held a series of news conferences on Friday to highlight a favorite campaign tactic: attacking the corporate outsourcing of jobs overseas.

The New York Times

Mere increase in cost alone is not a sufficient excuse for non-performance (Restatement of Contracts § 467 (1932)).

Harvard University

Noteworthy, E1-R3(A) expression was lower than that of its monomeric counterpart E1-R1(arguinguing that the gradual increase in blocking strength did not reflect the mere increase in numbers of RBD modules but rather was contingent on the presence of concatenated RBD units.

Cell Communication and Signaling

The increase of aberrant DNA methylation abundance in the late leukemic stage cannot simply be explained by the mere increase in blast counts, but might rather be the consequence of a vigorous 'epigenetic' clonal evolution or of severe disturbance of the epigenetic machinery.

Genome Medicine

Analysts suspect the figures were helped by the new wholesale-price index, which India's statisticians use to distinguish increases in volume from mere increases in price.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mere increase in" to subtly downplay the significance of a change, suggesting that it is smaller or less important than might be expected. This is useful when contrasting it with other, more substantial factors.

Common error

Avoid using "a mere increase in" when the increase actually has a significant effect. This can create a misleading impression and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere increase in" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a small or insignificant increase. It serves to downplay the extent of the increase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a mere increase in" is used to describe an increase that is small or insignificant. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. While the frequency is only "Uncommon", it appears across both scientific and news contexts. When writing, ensure you accurately represent the impact of the increase and avoid downplaying significant changes. Consider using alternatives like "a slight increase in" or "a marginal increase in" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight increase in

Replaces "mere" with "slight", indicating a small degree of change.

a marginal increase in

Substitutes "mere" with "marginal", suggesting the increase is barely noticeable or consequential.

a negligible increase in

Replaces "mere" with "negligible", emphasizing the increase's insignificance.

a modest rise in

Uses "modest rise" instead of "mere increase", implying a moderate and unassuming change.

a small uptick in

Employs "uptick" to mean a slight increase, often used in economic contexts.

a minor increase in

Replaces "mere" with "minor", indicating that the increase is not substantial.

a fractional increase in

Uses "fractional" to highlight that the increase is only a small portion of the whole.

a tiny increase in

Substitutes "mere" with "tiny", indicating the increase is very small in size or amount.

an unsubstantial increase in

Replaces "mere" with "unsubstantial", highlighting that the increase lacks significance or weight.

an insignificant increase in

Uses "insignificant" instead of "mere", emphasizing that the increase is not important or meaningful.

FAQs

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

Use "a mere increase in" to describe something that has only increased by a small or insignificant amount. For example: "Despite the marketing campaign, there was "a mere increase in" sales this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "a mere increase in"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight increase in", "a marginal increase in", or "a negligible increase in" to convey a similar meaning of a small or unimportant change.

Is it appropriate to use "a mere increase in" in formal writing?

Yes, "a mere increase in" is suitable for formal writing. It is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase. However, ensure its use aligns with the intended tone and context.

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

"A mere increase in" suggests a small or unimportant change, while "a significant increase in" indicates a substantial and noteworthy change. The choice depends on the actual impact of the increase you are describing.