a mere task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere task" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to downplay the significance or complexity of a task, suggesting that it is simple or unimportant. Example: "I thought the project would be challenging, but it turned out to be just a mere task that I completed in no time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The reasons for this strong opposition are explained in several documents produced by the AAROI: it is reported that "emergency medicine is not a medical discipline but a mere organizational task" that needs different specialistic interventions, but does not need the creation of an "omniscient specialist".

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

It enabled a better local understanding of the benefits of aid coordination, and the recognition that aid coordination as not only a mere administrative task, but a strategic step towards comprehensive management of both domestic and external resources.

Globalization and Health

It enabled a better understanding of the benefits of aid coordination, which brought about a "paradigm shift" within the MoH that reframed aid coordination as not only a mere administrative task, but a strategic step towards comprehensive management of both domestic and external resources.

Globalization and Health

Such is the state of the modern dashboard: in order to fit in every last comfort drivers could possibly want, car manufacturers have made the mere task of getting from one place to the next an ever more complicated feat.

The New York Times - Magazine

With a $100 consumer-friendly brainwave-reading headset, the Neurosky MindSet, Professor John Chuang found that the mere task of concentrating on one's breath was enough to uniquely identify them.

TechCrunch

Is mere task-irrelevant exposure to a stimulus truly sufficient for perceptual learning?

F1000Research

With the experiential turn in Human Computer Interaction (HCI), academics and practitioners broaden their focus from mere task-fulfillment (i.e., the pragmatic) to a holistic view, encompassing universal human needs such as relatedness or popularity (i.e., the hedonic).

Interacting with Computers

It would be important to determine the extent to which texting is based on recklessness, as opposed to a mere miscalibration of the task-demands and risks of texting [ 18].

BMC Public Health

Although we cannot reject this possibility entirely, we are confident that left lateralization of the parity judgment task is not a mere artefact produced by the order of tasks but indeed adds to our knowledge about the specificities of processing different aspects of numerical information.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

In his bloggy rage after being taken to task by a mere non-lawyer, Lessig demonstrates that he doesn't really know or care what the public domain really is, apparently blinded by his grand wish that damn near everything be put there.

Forbes

Earlier I had toured the prison: the education block was empty; the workshops offered a mere handful of inmates menial tasks; the sports area was out of use.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternatives like "a simple task" or "an easy task" if the context doesn't require the slightly dismissive tone that "a mere task" can sometimes convey.

Common error

Avoid using "a mere task" too frequently, as it can come across as condescending or dismissive. Vary your language to maintain a balanced and respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere task" functions as a noun phrase, where "mere" modifies the noun "task". It describes the task's perceived simplicity or insignificance. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a mere task" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English. Ludwig AI indicates that its purpose is to downplay the significance or difficulty of a task. While the phrase is structurally sound, it is not frequently found in common usage, as seen by the limited number of examples. When using "a mere task", writers should be mindful of its potential to sound dismissive and use it judiciously to maintain an appropriate and respectful tone. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "a simple task" or "an easy task" depending on the intended context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a simple task

Emphasizes the ease and lack of complexity involved.

an easy task

Highlights the lack of difficulty in accomplishing it.

a trivial task

Suggests the task is unimportant or insignificant.

a minor task

Indicates the task is small in scope or consequence.

a routine task

Implies the task is performed regularly and without much thought.

a basic task

Highlights that the task is fundamental and requires little skill.

a straightforward task

Stresses the lack of complications or obstacles involved.

a undemanding task

Indicates the task requires little effort or skill.

a facile task

Suggests the task is easily accomplished, sometimes implying superficiality.

a menial task

Highlights that the task is unskilled and often tedious.

FAQs

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

You can use "a mere task" to describe something that requires little effort or is considered unimportant. For example, "What seemed like "a mere task" turned out to be quite complex".

What are some alternatives to saying "a mere task"?

Alternatives include "a simple task", "an easy task", or "a trivial task". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a mere task"?

It's appropriate when you want to downplay the significance or difficulty of a task, often to contrast it with something more challenging or important. Be mindful of the potential for it to sound dismissive.

How does "a mere task" differ from "a challenging task"?

"A mere task" implies simplicity and ease, while "a challenging task" suggests difficulty and the need for significant effort. They are antonyms, representing opposite ends of the spectrum of task difficulty.