a minuscule part of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minuscule part of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small portion of something, often to emphasize its insignificance in relation to the whole. Example: "The budget allocated for marketing is just a minuscule part of the overall expenses for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Online shopping is still a minuscule part of the supermarket business.

The New York Times

They represent a minuscule part of Europe's latest headache caused by Belgrade.

The New York Times

Online advertising is still a minuscule part of overall revenues but is still crucial to Microsoft's growth strategy.

The Economist

Indeed, in the past week and half, banks have tried to estimate their proprietary trading, with most banks suggesting that it is a minuscule part of their business.

The New York Times

The square is such a minuscule part of Cairo – a sprawling city of almost eight million people – but for those days it stood for what Egypt could become.

The Guardian - Arts

While CD sales dropped last year, sales of records were up 36percentt, although they are still a minuscule part of the music market.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

What was the appeal of a minuscule part?

The New York Times

While the manuscript was in progress, a certain degree of tension arose between Dr. Wilson, who saw a starring role for the ants, and his editor, Robert Weil, who regarded a minuscule part as more appropriate.

The New York Times - Science

But that putative benefit is a mirage: what minuscule part of the populace can it serve?

The New York Times - Sports

Despite its relatively minuscule part of the state's $182 billion budget, the commission is not exempt from the cutting bonanza that lawmakers are undertaking as they seek to trim $15 billion to $27 billion from the state's two-year budget.

The New York Times

This part of the job proved the most difficult, and by the mid-1980s bubble memories had captured only a minuscule share of the total market for memory devices.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minuscule part of" when you want to emphasize the extremely small and often insignificant nature of a portion relative to the whole. This can add impact to your writing by highlighting the disparity in size or importance.

Common error

Avoid using "a minuscule part of" when the portion, though small, is still essential or impactful. The phrase inherently downplays the importance of what it describes, so ensure this aligns with your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minuscule part of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it represents a very small and often insignificant portion of something larger. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minuscule part of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that constitutes a very small and often insignificant portion of a larger whole. According to Ludwig AI, its use is correct, and it appears frequently in news, scientific and encyclopedic contexts. It functions to downplay the importance of the portion being described. When using the phrase, it's essential to ensure that the context aligns with the intended meaning, avoiding its use when the portion, though small, is still essential or impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny fraction of

Replaces 'minuscule' with 'tiny fraction', emphasizing the small proportion.

an insignificant portion of

Substitutes 'minuscule' with 'insignificant', highlighting the lack of importance.

a negligible amount of

Replaces "part" with "amount" and 'minuscule' with 'negligible', stressing the unimportance of the quantity.

a very small component of

Uses 'very small component' in place of 'minuscule part', offering a more descriptive alternative.

a microscopic element of

Replaces "minuscule" with "microscopic", stressing extreme smallness, and "part" with "element".

a mere sliver of

Uses 'mere sliver' to convey a small, thin piece, emphasizing delicacy.

a drop in the ocean of

Employs an idiomatic expression to denote something extremely small compared to the whole.

an infinitesimal piece of

Substitutes 'minuscule' with 'infinitesimal', indicating an immeasurably small amount.

a trivial aspect of

Replaces 'minuscule' with 'trivial', focusing on the lack of significance of that part.

a slim segment of

Replaces 'minuscule part' with 'slim segment', describing a small section or division.

FAQs

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

Use "a minuscule part of" to describe something that constitutes a very small and often insignificant portion of a larger whole. For example, "The budget allocated to research was "a minuscule part of" the company's total expenditures."

What are some alternatives to "a minuscule part of"?

You can use alternatives like "a tiny fraction of", "an insignificant portion of", or "a negligible amount of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "a minuscule part of" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a grammatically correct and well-understood phrase. However, ensure that its somewhat emphatic nature aligns with the tone of your writing.

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

"A minuscule part of" emphasizes the extreme smallness and potential insignificance of the portion being described. "A small part of" simply indicates that the portion is not large, without necessarily implying insignificance.