a minor discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minor discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a small difference between two things. For example: "The two accounts had a minor discrepancy, so the accountant had to double-check them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The predictions agreed with the experimental data with a minor discrepancy acceptable in an engineering view.

Chemical Engineering Journal

PAGE C11 OBITUARIES WILLIS E. LAMB JR., 94 His discovery of a minor discrepancy in quantum theory helped earn him a share of the 1955 Nobel Prize, and led to the rethinking of quantum mechanics.

The New York Times

We observed a minor discrepancy between the solutions at very early times which originates from the different structures in these two reservoir simulators, IMPEC in UTCOMP and fully implicit in GPAS.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Saying one's major was computer science rather than just accounting might seem a minor discrepancy to some people, but not in Silicon Valley where Yahoo has its headquarters and where thousands of engineers live and work.

The New York Times

It is notwithstanding that the linear lines indicate a minor discrepancy over the transverse resistance and aquifer total resistivity.

Applied Water Science

We also note that (29) exactly matches (18); on the other hand, there is a minor discrepancy between (27) and (18).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

A few minor discrepancies in temperature distribution exist between the simulations and the experiments.

ACS Nano

A few minor discrepancies were found in the probe data obtained from the caArray website.

BMC Systems Biology

Although we notice a few minor discrepancies between the two sets of alignments (see Figure S9 vs. Figure S11, reproduced from Trivedi et al. 2007), these differences do not alter our conclusion of human-relevant positive selection at the highlighted site in the proteolytic core of TPSAB1.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Note: You may notice a few minor discrepancies in these instructions (especially in terms of precise text on buttons) depending on which version of the game you are using.

WikiHow

A 2007 study of the impact of specialist neuroradiologist second reading of CT and MR studies initially interpreted by general radiologists found a 13% major and 21% minor discrepancy rate [21].

Insights into Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a minor discrepancy", ensure the context clearly establishes what two or more items are being compared. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a minor discrepancy" when the difference is actually substantial or impactful. Misrepresenting the degree of difference can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minor discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a small difference or inconsistency between two or more things. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a minor discrepancy" serves to highlight a small difference or inconsistency, often in analytical or comparative contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's primarily found in scientific and news-related publications, suggesting a formal and neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what items are being compared and avoid exaggerating the significance of the difference. While "a minor discrepancy" is not exceedingly common, related phrases such as "a slight inconsistency" or "a small difference" can provide similar nuance. Overall, "a minor discrepancy" is a useful and precise way to indicate a small variance without overstating its importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight inconsistency

Replaces "discrepancy" with "inconsistency" and "minor" with "slight", indicating a small difference.

a small difference

Uses more general terms to convey a minor variation between two things.

a trivial variance

Emphasizes the unimportance of the difference using "trivial" instead of "minor" and variance instead of discrepancy.

a negligible disparity

Indicates that the difference is so small it can be ignored, using "negligible" to describe the size of the "disparity".

a modest deviation

Highlights that something has diverged slightly from what is expected.

a marginal difference

Focuses on the edge or border between agreement and disagreement. Replaces "minor" with "marginal".

a faint distinction

Suggests that the difference is barely perceptible, using "faint" to emphasize its subtlety.

a petty divergence

Implies the disagreement is almost childish. Replaces "minor" with "petty" and "discrepancy" with "divergence".

a technicality

Focuses on the formal or superficial nature of the difference, often implying it is unimportant.

an insignificant variation

Conveys that the difference holds little or no importance, using "insignificant" to minimize the difference.

FAQs

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

Use "a minor discrepancy" to point out a small difference between two sets of data or two versions of something. For example: "There was "a minor discrepancy" in the reported sales figures compared to the actual revenue."

What's a good synonym for "a minor discrepancy"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "a slight inconsistency", "a small difference", or "a trivial variance", each suggesting a small divergence.

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

Yes, "a minor discrepancy" is suitable for formal writing, especially in reports or analyses where precision is important. It accurately conveys a small difference without exaggerating its importance.

What is the difference between "a minor discrepancy" and "a major discrepancy"?

"A minor discrepancy" indicates a small, often unimportant difference, while "a major discrepancy" suggests a significant and potentially problematic difference that needs attention.