a mere request

USAGE SUMMARY

"a mere request" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to refer to a simple or basic request, without any special or significant meaning attached to it. Example: "She made a mere request for a glass of water, but he refused to get it for her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I think it's safe to say that no one will ever file a PRA request for refinery information, once it becomes known that a mere request may thrust the requester involuntarily into a costly legal battle against oil companies.

Huffington Post

Gun permit holding is public information in New York, and can be acquired through a mere request via the Freedom of Information Act.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Reminder: Our Country Withheld Content policy means we act after due process, e.g., a court order," it said in one post, adding, "We don't withhold content at the mere request of a gov't official and we may appeal a court order when it threatens freedom of expression".

Vice

The D.A.'s legal policy manual, which explains the basic criteria for filing charges, warns prosecutors against basing their decisions on "public or media pressure to charge" as well as "the mere request to charge by a police agency, private citizen or public official".

Los Angeles Times

The court date was a mere formality a request for a postponement.

The New Yorker

That's 1,054 percent more than the same period in 2012, during which the NSA received a mere 293 requests.

TechCrunch

Nor are mere requests or recommendations by researchers' institutions or funders, encouraging them to self-archive, enough to raise this 20% figure appreciably, even when coupled with offers of help, rewards, incentives and even offers to do the deposit on the author's behalf [21].

Plosone

The president's 2006 budget request last week contained dismal news for biomedical researchers--a mere 0.7% raise, to $28.8 billion, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Science Magazine

In the past year alone, a mere 10percentt of all requests to access areas like Madaya were approved and delivered, according to the UNHCR. .

Huffington Post

The president's 2004 budget request contains only a $549 million increase, to $27.9 billion, a mere 2% increase over the requested 2003 budget.

Science Magazine

Republicans, who have argued in other cases that only votes cast in strict compliance with the law should be counted, argued that in this case the error with the request forms was a mere technicality that should not keep the votes from being counted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mere request" to downplay the significance or effort required by the request. This can be useful in situations where you want to avoid creating unnecessary alarm or resistance.

Common error

Avoid using elaborate language or phrasing when a simple, direct statement of "a mere request" will suffice. Overcomplicating the language can inadvertently inflate the perceived importance or difficulty of the request.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere request" functions as a noun phrase that modifies the noun "request". It serves to describe the nature of the request, emphasizing its simplicity and lack of importance, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mere request" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase designed to downplay the importance or complexity of a request. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys that the request is simple and should not be considered burdensome. The phrase is suitable for a variety of contexts, but is particularly frequent in news and media sources. When using this phrase, ensure that your intent is to reassure the recipient and that the simplicity of the request aligns with the context. Alternatives like ""a simple request"" or ""a minor request"" can be used to achieve a similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a simple request

Emphasizes the uncomplicated nature of the request.

a basic request

Highlights the fundamental or essential aspect of the request.

a minor request

Focuses on the small scale or unimportance of the request.

a trivial request

Stresses the insignificance or lack of seriousness of the request.

a routine request

Indicates that the request is standard and unremarkable.

a standard request

Suggests the request follows typical procedures or expectations.

just a request

Underscores the idea that it is nothing more than a request.

only a request

Similar to "just a request", emphasizing the request's limited scope.

a small ask

Informal way to refer to an easy-to-fulfill request.

an insignificant request

Highlights that the request isn't important.

FAQs

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

You can use "a mere request" to emphasize that something is only a simple or basic request, as in "It was "a mere request" for information, not a demand."

What are some alternatives to "a mere request"?

Some alternatives include "a simple request", "a minor request", or "a basic request", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a mere request" or "just a request"?

"A mere request" and "just a request" are similar, but "a mere request" often implies that the request is so simple it should be easily fulfilled, while "just a request" simply emphasizes that it is only a request.

What does "a mere request" imply?

"A mere request" implies that the request is not significant, burdensome, or complicated. It's often used to downplay the impact or expected effort associated with the request.