a minor undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minor undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or project that is relatively small in scale or significance. Example: "Organizing the office picnic was a minor undertaking compared to the annual company retreat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fitting out may be a relatively minor undertaking, as with a tanker or a bulk carrier, but in the case of a passenger vessel, the work will be extensive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Such a count was no minor undertaking; to avoid miscategorizing or erasing the racial identities of writers, VIDA reached out to women who published in each outlet with a carefully constructed survey.

Huffington Post

Three smaller airport Yotels have proved successful at Heathrow, Gatwick and Amsterdam's Schiphol, but the $315m New York outpost, which opened last week, is the pair's first city venture, and with 669 "cabin" rooms over 27 floors of "affordable luxury", it's no minor undertaking.

The Guardian - Travel

Good or bad, it is certainly no minor undertaking.

Forbes

"It was great to build the house green, but the reality is that it is a production studio" says Pete, "I set myself up to be underwhelmed, but what happened was the complete opposite!" "Jim Johnston--thExecutive Producer, Fabian Andrere, and Morgan Cohen really went out of the way to make the house and the actual production as green as possible, which is no minor undertaking," assures Pete.

Huffington Post

A minor excavation was undertaken by George Marçais in the 1920s.

Wikipedia

Students undertaking a minor are expected to complete the requirements during the time of their continuous undergraduate enrollment at Cornell.

Cornell University

A minor pilgrimage, known as an umrah, can be undertaken at any time of the year.

The New York Times

No doubt watching shows like Property Brothers and Love it or List It inspired me to undertake what my husband I and believed would be a minor remodeling project.

Huffington Post

Among those patients who undertook amputation surgery in the Brazilian study, 44.2 % received a minor amputation and 55.8 % a major amputation.

BMC Health Services Research

When his father's commercial interests failed, he undertook the support of his whole family by writing and teaching and obtained a minor government post.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minor undertaking" to downplay the scale of a project or task, especially when contrasting it with larger, more complex endeavors.

Common error

Avoid using "a minor undertaking" when the task actually requires significant resources or effort. Ensure the description accurately reflects the scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minor undertaking" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a verb. It describes something, often a task or project, by characterizing it as small or insignificant in scope. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is suitable for describing activities that don't require substantial effort or resources.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a minor undertaking" is used to describe a task or project that is relatively small in scale or significance. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. It's often used to contrast smaller tasks with larger ones, as seen in several examples. While grammatically sound and understandable, its frequency is rare. It is most often encountered in news and media, encyclopedia and wiki sources. When using this phrase, be sure that the task genuinely qualifies as small or easy, avoiding overstatement. Consider alternatives like "a small project" or "a simple task" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small project

Focuses on the size of the project rather than the effort involved.

a simple task

Emphasizes the ease of the task.

an easy job

Highlights the lack of difficulty.

a trivial matter

Suggests the unimportance of the issue.

a light lift

Implies minimal effort is needed.

a piece of cake

An idiomatic expression indicating extreme ease.

a breeze

Another idiomatic expression suggesting ease and lack of difficulty.

a walk in the park

Idiomatic expression implying simplicity and enjoyment.

a cinch

Informal term indicating something very easy to do.

a snap

Informal term indicating something that can be done quickly and easily.

FAQs

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

You can use "a minor undertaking" to describe a task that is relatively small or easy compared to other tasks. For example, "Compared to the renovation, painting the walls was "a minor undertaking"".

What's a good alternative to "a minor undertaking"?

Alternatives include "a small project", "a simple task", or "an easy job". The best choice depends on the specific context.

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

Yes, "a minor undertaking" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, although in very formal contexts, you might prefer more precise language depending on the task being described.

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

"A minor undertaking" refers to a small, manageable task, while "a major undertaking" implies a large, complex project requiring significant resources and effort.