a negligible contribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a negligible contribution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a contribution that is so small or insignificant that it has little to no impact on the overall outcome or situation. Example: "The study found that the new policy made a negligible contribution to reducing carbon emissions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Changes to inventories normally make a negligible contribution to growth.

The Economist

When he resigned from "the service" in 1964, he now reports "a negligible contribution".

The Guardian - Books

Burning of garden waste makes a negligible contribution to the greenhouse gas burden, he added.

The New York Times - Science

She won awards, sometimes as many as four a year, but made a negligible contribution to the world's built environment.

The Guardian - Arts

Such concern is also consistent with the fact that the out-diffused Ti is found to have a negligible contribution to the measured interface conduction.

Nature

The linear correlation of heat flux and temperature gradient in Fig. 3 suggests a negligible contribution of convection side losses in the measurements.

Nature

Enlarging the combustion zone, however, makes only a negligible contribution to electricity output properties, such as output voltage and power.

Journal of Power Sources

No inverse fabric was identified, indicating that stable single-domain magnetite had a negligible contribution to the fabric.

Geoderma

The volume fraction of the interlobular septa is sufficiently low that it provides a negligible contribution to the macroscopic modulus.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

This may look particularly impressive in the second quarter after a negligible contribution to growth from government spending in the first three months of the year.

The Economist

The company behind a proposed coalmine in the Bylong Valley in New South Wales has claimed the project will make a "negligible contribution" to global climate change, in a fresh submission responding to the historic Rocky Hill judgment.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a negligible contribution", ensure the context clearly establishes what the contribution is negligible to. This provides necessary context and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a negligible contribution" when the contribution, while small, has a disproportionately large effect. Even a seemingly small factor can sometimes trigger significant changes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a negligible contribution" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in various sentences where it describes something having little to no impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a negligible contribution" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate that something has a very small or insignificant impact. As Ludwig's analysis confirms, this phrase is commonly found in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While many alternatives exist, such as "a minimal contribution" or "an insignificant contribution", it's crucial to ensure the context accurately reflects the meaning you intend to convey. Remember to use this phrase when something truly has a minor effect to avoid misleading the audience. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is well-established and versatile across various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minimal contribution

Emphasizes the smallness of the contribution, similar to negligible.

an insignificant contribution

Highlights the lack of importance or consequence of the contribution.

a minor contribution

Indicates the contribution is small in scale or effect.

a trivial contribution

Suggests the contribution is so small as to be almost without value.

a paltry contribution

Implies the contribution is meager and insufficient.

a small contribution

A general term indicating a contribution that is not large.

a marginal contribution

Indicates the contribution is barely significant or on the edge of being so.

a negligible amount

Shifts focus to the quantity, emphasizing its insignificance.

an inconsequential part

Highlights the lack of consequence or importance of the part.

a drop in the bucket

An idiomatic expression conveying the insignificance of the contribution relative to the whole.

FAQs

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

You can use "a negligible contribution" to describe something that has very little impact. For example: "The new policy made "a negligible contribution" to reducing pollution levels."

What's a more formal way to say "a negligible contribution"?

More formal alternatives include "a minimal contribution" or "an insignificant contribution". These phrases carry a similar meaning but are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What's the difference between "a negligible contribution" and "a significant contribution"?

"A negligible contribution" means the impact is very small or non-existent, while "a significant contribution" implies the impact is substantial and noteworthy. They are antonyms.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a negligible contribution"?

Use "a negligible contribution" when you want to emphasize that something's impact is so small it's not worth considering. Be sure that your assessment is accurate; avoid downplaying something if it actually has a more meaningful effect.