a mere report

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a mere report' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unimportant or insignificant, usually in comparison to something else. For example, "The students took the teacher's lecture as more than just a mere report - it was a valuable learning experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet as usual, Ingarden is concerned to account for the role of consciousness in constituting aesthetic values and the variations in aesthetic judgments without embracing a subjectivism that would deny that there is any better or worse in aesthetic judgment, each being a mere report of the pleasure experienced by the one judging.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The decline does not appear to be a mere reporting phenomenon.

The New York Times

This is analogous to the concept of "writing to learn," in which explaining the material in one's own words is considered part of the learning process, rather than a mere reporting of what has been learned previously (Balgopal and Wallace, 2009).

CBE Life Sciences Education

Soon after assembling his new gang of direct reports–a mere 13, compared with 28 for Rollins Dell decided it was time to hear from the public, knowing full well that he would get an earful.

Forbes

But that primacy is paradoxical: the tragedy of Karski's mission, if it was a tragedy, was to have witnessed something of such unprecedented horror that no mere report could convey its import, still less move the allies to action.

The Guardian - Film

While 80% of the sample was currently enrolled in school at Wave 1, a mere 16% reported being at grade level according to the official standards (not shown), and 48% were categorized as at grade level by our less stringent operationalization.

Demographic Research

Her conversations "go deeper" than mere reporting, she says: they are the best method of capturing our protean modern selves.

The Guardian - Books

Lord Neuberger, England's second most senior judge, yesterday indicated that the mere reporting of allegations was not covered by Reynolds.

The Guardian

You couldn't get away with this in a national campaign; in the state campaign none bother to answer the charges & the coverage is mere reporting.

The New Yorker

An American bid for the French banking giant, with a market capitalization of around 50 billion euros ($60 billion) would likely be very controversial, particularly after the hostile response that PepsiCo received from the government for mere reports that it would bid for Danone, the yogurt maker.

The New York Times

This interest is not served by replacing disclosure with mere reporting to overburdened agencies, as proponents of secret spending have suggested.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mere report" to downplay the significance of information when contrasting it with a more substantial analysis or action. For example, "The initial assessment was just "a mere report", but it sparked a full investigation."

Common error

Avoid using "a mere report" if the report has significant implications or forms the basis for important decisions. This phrasing can undermine its credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere report" functions as a noun phrase acting as an adjective, modifying the noun "report". It emphasizes the limited or insignificant nature of the report, suggesting it is nothing more than a basic summary or overview. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a mere report" is used to minimize the significance of a report, suggesting it is basic or superficial. Grammatically correct and suitable for neutral contexts, it commonly appears in news and media, according to Ludwig. When considering alternatives, options like "simply a report" or "just a report" offer similar meaning. Exercise caution in formal writing to avoid sounding dismissive. This analysis, combined with Ludwig AI's confirmation of its correct usage, provides a comprehensive understanding of the phrase's function and application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely a report

Employs the adverb "merely" to express the insignificance more explicitly.

just a report

Replaces "mere" with "just", emphasizing the simplicity and lack of importance.

simply a report

Substitutes "mere" with "simply", suggesting straightforwardness and lack of complexity.

only a report

Uses "only" instead of "mere" to highlight the limited nature of the report.

a simple report

Replaces "mere" with "simple", focusing on the uncomplicated nature of the report.

an insignificant report

Replaces "mere" with "insignificant", clearly stating the report's lack of importance.

just a basic report

Adds "basic" to further emphasize the simplicity and lack of detail.

a trivial report

Uses "trivial" to indicate the report's lack of importance or consequence.

a superficial report

Suggests the report lacks depth or thoroughness.

a cursory report

Highlights the brief and quick nature of the report.

FAQs

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

You can use "a mere report" to suggest that something is just a basic summary or overview, lacking detailed analysis or significant impact. For example, "The company dismissed the findings as "just a mere report", ignoring the underlying issues."

What phrases are similar to "a mere report"?

Similar phrases include "simply a report", "just a report", or "only a report". These alternatives also imply that something is basic or lacks importance.

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

While grammatically correct, "a mere report" can sound dismissive. In formal writing, consider using a more neutral phrasing like "a summary report" or "a preliminary assessment" if you don't want to downplay the significance.

What's the difference between "a mere report" and "a comprehensive analysis"?

"A mere report" implies a basic, superficial overview, while "a comprehensive analysis" suggests a thorough, in-depth examination of a subject. The first lacks depth, while the second provides a detailed understanding.