a mere ratings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere ratings" is not correct in English.
It should be "mere ratings" or "a mere rating" depending on the context. You can use it when discussing the insignificance or triviality of ratings in a particular context. Example: "The film received a lot of criticism, but in the end, it was just a mere rating that didn't reflect its true quality."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I must object to The New York Times's characterizing as a mere "ratings strategy" Bob Woodruff's and Doug Vogt's reporting when they were seriously wounded in Iraq (front page, Jan . 30.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was at this moment, Brinkley says, that Cronkite "became more significant than a mere Nielsen ratings winner on the nightly news merry-go-round".

The New Yorker

Launching the new season, BBC director of television Alan Yentob said programme-makers were aspiring to something higher than mere ratings.

The Guardian

On iTunes, "LeVar Burton Reads" has more than seventeen hundred five-star ratings, a mere seventeen four-star ratings, and a combined total of seven lesser-starred ratings.

The New Yorker

But I don't buy into that a mere regression of ratings is going to single-handedly have that huge of an effect.

Huffington Post

The first series was aired on FX, where it managed consolidated ratings of a mere 120,000 viewers, and was dropped.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A mere half-star difference in ratings resulted in a considerable jump or plummet in business (interesting given the site rounds a 3.74 down to three and a half stars, and awards four stars to a 3.75).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The latest Ipsos Markinor poll puts its ratings at a mere 53% compared with its 66% showing in 2009 (when the DA won less than 17%), and Nomura's Peter Attard Montalto predicts that it will poll as low as 56%.

The Guardian

In the latest FORBES ratings, it gets a mere D in up markets.

Forbes

Ratings during the first few weeks of the trial were up a mere 2 percent over the same period a year ago, while the Anthony trial goosed ratings more than 80 percent.

The New York Times

A year earlier it showed a mere 1% rise.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. If you aim to convey insignificance, alternatives like "paltry", "trivial", or "negligible" might be more effective.

Common error

Avoid using "a mere ratings" as it's grammatically incorrect. Remember that "ratings" is plural. If you intend to refer to a single rating, use "a mere rating".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere ratings" functions as a modifier intended to diminish the importance of "ratings". However, it presents grammatical issues due to the combination of the singular article "a" with the plural noun "ratings", as noted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a mere ratings" is generally grammatically incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular article "a" and the plural noun "ratings". As Ludwig AI points out, it is more appropriate to use "mere ratings" or "a mere rating" depending on the context. The phrase aims to diminish the significance of ratings, but its incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness. Consider using alternatives like "paltry rating" or "trivial rating" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. While it appears mainly in news and media, ensure proper usage to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mere ratings

Omits the article "a", correcting the grammatical error while retaining the core meaning of insignificant ratings.

just ratings

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize that they are only ratings, nothing more.

only ratings

Uses "only" to convey that the focus is purely on ratings and their limited value.

a paltry rating

Replaces "mere" with "paltry", emphasizing the insignificance of a single rating.

insignificant ratings

Directly states that the ratings are not important or meaningful.

a trivial rating

Substitutes "mere" with "trivial", highlighting the unimportance of the rating.

unimportant ratings

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the ratings.

a negligible rating

Uses "negligible" instead of "mere", stressing that the rating is so small it can be disregarded.

a minor rating

Replaces "mere" with "minor", indicating a small or unimportant rating.

a single rating

Focuses on the fact that it's just one rating, implying its lack of impact.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "mere" with ratings?

The correct usage depends on the context. Use "mere ratings" to refer to ratings in general, implying their insignificance. Use "a mere rating" when referring to a single, insignificant rating.

What can I say instead of "a mere ratings" to emphasize insignificance?

You can use alternatives like "paltry rating", "trivial rating", or "negligible rating" to highlight the lack of importance.

Is "a mere ratings" grammatically correct?

No, "a mere ratings" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is either "mere ratings" or "a mere rating", depending on whether you are referring to multiple ratings or a single rating.

What's the difference between "mere ratings" and "a mere rating"?

"Mere ratings" refers to ratings in general, implying their unimportance, while "a mere rating" refers to a single rating that is insignificant. The use of the article "a" indicates singularity.