a minor contribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minor contribution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant input or effort made towards a project or task. Example: "While my role in the project was a minor contribution, I was still proud to be part of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But Dryden has had to live with what can be described as only a minor contribution.

The New York Times - Sports

The company's wireless operations, which account for one-third of its revenue, make only a minor contribution to earnings.

The New York Times

Awards for best choreography were given, but in some years these were acknowledgments of what was only a minor contribution to a show.

The New York Times

In fact, these scientists suspected that saturated fat and cholesterol made only a minor contribution to the increased amount of heart disease seen in red-meat eaters.

The New York Times - Health

Re-injection of copper-free methanobactin showed that a minor contribution of breakdown products was formed.

Geochemical Transactions

Covalent modifications to the retained PCNA make only a minor contribution to elg1Δ genome instability.

Cell Reports

The interlayer's thickness showed a minor contribution in the thermal stress reduction.

Materials Science and Engineering: C

Electron lone pair interactions are weak and make only a minor contribution to the retention mechanism.

Journal of Chromatography A

Space and associations with herbs had a minor contribution to overall variation.

Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics

Inactivation of viruses and interaction with kinetic site 2 provide only a minor contribution to removal.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Comparatively, the slope angle and relative compaction had only a minor contribution to the slope hydrology.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a minor contribution", ensure the context clearly establishes what the major contributions are so the scale of impact is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "a minor contribution" when the actual impact is significant. This can mislead the audience and diminish the value of the contribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minor contribution" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes something or someone providing a part that is not especially significant to the overall outcome, as validated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minor contribution" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that signifies a small or insignificant part played in something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to downplay or qualify the significance of an input, making it suitable for neutral to formal registers. While commonly found in scientific and news contexts, it’s crucial to ensure clarity by referencing major contributions and avoiding overstatements about the phrase's impact. Considering related phrases like "a small contribution" and being mindful of common writing errors ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small contribution

Replaces "minor" with "small", emphasizing the diminutive size of the contribution.

a slight contribution

Uses "slight" instead of "minor", suggesting a very small amount of contribution.

a marginal contribution

Substitutes "minor" with "marginal", suggesting the contribution is barely significant.

an insignificant contribution

Uses "insignificant" instead of "minor", highlighting the lack of impact of the contribution.

a trivial contribution

Replaces "minor" with "trivial", implying the contribution is of little importance.

a limited contribution

Emphasizes that the contribution was restricted or not extensive.

a negligible contribution

Replaces "minor" with "negligible", indicating the contribution is so small it can be ignored.

a secondary contribution

Indicates that the contribution was not primary or essential.

a supplementary contribution

Suggests the contribution was additional and not fundamental.

a subsidiary contribution

Implies the contribution was subordinate or supporting a main effort.

FAQs

How can I use "a minor contribution" in a sentence?

You can use "a minor contribution" to describe something that adds a small or less significant part to a larger effort or outcome. For example: "While my role was a minor contribution, I'm glad I could help."

What are some alternatives to "a minor contribution"?

Some alternatives to "a minor contribution" include "a small contribution", "a marginal contribution", or "a slight contribution".

Is it appropriate to use "a minor contribution" in formal writing?

Yes, "a minor contribution" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe a contribution of lesser importance. You might also consider synonyms like "a limited contribution" in certain contexts.

What's the difference between "a minor contribution" and "a major contribution"?

"A minor contribution" indicates a small or less important part, while "a major contribution" signifies a large or more significant part. The choice depends on the true extent of the impact being described.