a minuscule fraction of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minuscule fraction of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small part or amount of something in a quantitative context. Example: "The research showed that a minuscule fraction of the population was affected by the rare disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Natural proteins represent a minuscule fraction of possible sequence space.

Princeton University

Politically motivated violence remains a minuscule fraction of all violence.

The Washington Post

Studies have shown only a minuscule fraction of voter fraud cases in recent years.

The Guardian

If they exist, they can only account for a minuscule fraction of workless people.

The Guardian - Opinion

But back then, only a minuscule fraction of the world's population lived in cities.

The Guardian

That is "a minuscule fraction of the work force," she said.

The New York Times

If they exist, they account for a minuscule fraction of workless people.

The Guardian

But those countries account for a minuscule fraction of emerging stock and bond markets.

The New York Times

Only a minuscule fraction of Polonium 215 takes the beta-decay route, to become astatine.

The New York Times - Magazine

As only a minuscule fraction of these have been experimentally characterized, computational methods are widely used for automated annotation.

University of California, Berkeley

Visitors to Kiwayu represent a minuscule fraction of the total – "not even a percent", according to Sloan.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minuscule fraction of" when you want to emphasize how small a portion is relative to the whole, adding a sense of scale to the comparison.

Common error

While appropriate for formal writing, "a minuscule fraction of" can sound overly sophisticated in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a tiny bit" or "very little" for everyday speech.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minuscule fraction of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a very small quantity. It is used to emphasize the smallness of a part relative to the whole, as Ludwig AI confirms, drawing from numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minuscule fraction of" is a prepositional phrase used to describe a very small portion or amount of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts. It's especially common in "News & Media" and "Academia", where its precision is valued. While semantically similar to phrases like "a tiny proportion of" and "a negligible quantity of", it's best reserved for situations where emphasizing extreme smallness is desired. Remember to avoid overuse in informal contexts, opting for simpler language when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny proportion of

Replaces "fraction" with "proportion" and "minuscule" with "tiny", maintaining a similar level of informality.

a negligible quantity of

Focuses on the insignificance of the amount, using "negligible" to emphasize the smallness.

an insignificant amount of

Highlights the lack of importance or impact due to the small quantity.

a very small percentage of

Uses more direct quantitative terms to express the smallness, making it less figurative.

a mere sliver of

Employs a visual metaphor to convey the idea of a thin, small slice or portion.

a microscopic part of

Emphasizes the extreme smallness by using the adjective "microscopic."

a trifling amount of

Suggests the amount is so small it's almost not worth considering.

an infinitesimal piece of

Indicates something is virtually non-existent in size or quantity.

a scant portion of

Emphasizes that the amount is barely sufficient or adequate.

a derisory amount of

Highlights the inadequacy or laughably small size of the amount.

FAQs

How can I use "a minuscule fraction of" in a sentence?

You can use "a minuscule fraction of" to describe a very small portion of something. For example, "A minuscule fraction of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What phrases are similar to "a minuscule fraction of"?

Similar phrases include "a tiny portion of", "a negligible amount of", and "an insignificant quantity of".

Is it always appropriate to use "a minuscule fraction of" in formal writing?

Yes, "a minuscule fraction of" is generally suitable for formal writing. However, ensure the context warrants such a precise and somewhat emphatic expression of smallness.

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

"A small fraction of" indicates a portion that is less than half but still potentially significant. "A minuscule fraction of" emphasizes that the portion is extremely small, almost negligible.