a minuscule contribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minuscule contribution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small or insignificant amount of contribution made to a project, cause, or effort. Example: "Despite his efforts, his donation was just a minuscule contribution compared to the overall funding needed for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Wealthy foreigners got away with a minuscule contribution.

The Guardian - Opinion

We generate product for Google, our every search a minuscule contribution.

The New York Times

"We make a minuscule contribution to the climate greenhouse effect but we are at the very frontline of the problems of climate change".

The Guardian

Ivory is a minuscule contribution to China's economy, yet if the government shut down the carving factories it would be a huge moral and diplomatic win for the Chinese government.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What was the appeal of a minuscule part?

The New York Times

(The telomeres are a minuscule part of the 2 meters of DNA in a typical cell).

Science Magazine

Securing schools is a minuscule part of the solution.

Huffington Post

In the course of an ordinary day Daniel must deal with a boy who refuses to talk, parents who can't afford minuscule contributions to the school's activity fund, and a drunken mother who collapses on the playground and then, overcome with shame, runs away, abandoning both her 5-year-old daughter and her infant son to Daniel's care.

The New York Times

We found that direct non-medical cost represented only a minuscule 2% share of total costs.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

For his part, Mr. Hevesi pointed out in a statement that the campaign had trouble with a minuscule proportion of its contributions.

The New York Times

Instead, solar power contributed a minuscule 0.01% to Japanese electricity production last year, says Eurotechnology.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a minuscule contribution", ensure the context clearly establishes what the contribution is being made to, and why its small size is relevant or noteworthy.

Common error

Avoid using "a minuscule contribution" when the contribution, though small, is still significant or meaningful. Consider if "small but vital" is more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minuscule contribution" functions as a noun phrase, where "minuscule" modifies the noun "contribution". It describes the degree or extent of the contribution, indicating that it is extremely small or insignificant. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minuscule contribution" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English that describes something that is very small or insignificant in terms of its impact or amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid. Although the phrase appears relatively infrequently, as the analyzed data shows, when used, it's typically found in news and media or science contexts to emphasize the limited impact of something. While alternatives like "an insignificant offering" or "a negligible input" exist, "a minuscule contribution" is appropriate for formal and informal contexts when stressing the extremely small nature of the contribution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an insignificant offering

Replaces "contribution" with "offering" and "minuscule" with "insignificant", emphasizing the lack of importance.

a negligible input

Substitutes "contribution" with "input" and "minuscule" with "negligible", highlighting the minimal impact.

a trifling donation

Replaces "contribution" with "donation" and "minuscule" with "trifling", suggesting the smallness of the amount given.

a minimal share

Replaces "contribution" with "share" and "minuscule" with "minimal", focusing on the reduced portion.

a slight addition

Replaces "contribution" with "addition" and "minuscule" with "slight", emphasizing the small increase or supplement.

a paltry amount

Uses "amount" to generalize the concept of contribution, replacing "minuscule" with "paltry" to denote worthlessness.

a microscopic part

Replaces "contribution" with "part" and "minuscule" with "microscopic", stressing the extremely small size or portion.

an imperceptible influence

Substitutes "contribution" with "influence" and "minuscule" with "imperceptible", underscoring that something has virtually no effect.

a trivial impact

Replaces "contribution" with "impact" and "minuscule" with "trivial", focusing on the lack of consequence or importance.

a featherweight contribution

Replaces "minuscule" with the compound adjective "featherweight" to underscore the light, almost non-existent, impact of the contribution.

FAQs

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

You can use "a minuscule contribution" to describe something that is very small or insignificant in terms of its impact or amount. For example, "His donation was "a minuscule contribution" to the overall cost of the project".

What are some alternatives to "a minuscule contribution"?

Alternatives to "a minuscule contribution" include "a negligible amount", "a tiny fraction", or "an insignificant portion".

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

Yes, "a minuscule contribution" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when precise language is needed to convey the small scale of something. However, consider the tone and whether a more impactful word choice is warranted.

What's the difference between "a minuscule contribution" and "a small contribution"?

"A minuscule contribution" implies an even smaller amount or impact than "a small contribution". "Minuscule" emphasizes the extreme tininess or insignificance of the contribution.