a negligible difference

USAGE SUMMARY

'a negligible difference' is correct and usable in written English.
You may use it when referring to a difference so small that it is nearly insignificant or unnoticeable. For example, "The two cars had a negligible difference in performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Generally, the shear and Young's moduli of CPN containing pseudoparticles show a high change by the properties of pseudoparticles, while the bulk modulus demonstrates a negligible difference at different levels of whole parameters.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Generally, the shear and Young's moduli of CPN showed a high range of change by the properties of pseudoparticles, while the bulk modulus established a negligible difference at different levels of all factors.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Again, a negligible difference.

The Guardian - Sport

This shouldn't be dismissed as a negligible difference.

Independent

However, tax campaigners believe the move will make a negligible difference to the coffee shop's tax UK tax bill.

The Guardian - Business

Through London & Country we are remortgaging to a five-year fix with Santander at 2.99%, so it's a negligible difference in the rate.

The Guardian - Money

About 8percentt of tweets sent to male fans used offensive language, compared with 9percentt of tweets directed at female fans — a negligible difference.

The Washington Post

The two tiered hybrid approaches yielded total-supply-chain GHG footprints of material and equipment with a negligible difference (0.7%).

Energy

Co, Mn or Fe incorporation generates a negligible difference on the chemical shift in 31P and 27Al MAS NMR.

Catalysis Today

You say that if King Edward's were dissolved neighbouring comprehensives would each gain just one extra pupil per class; a negligible difference, according to Miss Insch.

The Economist

Further, Mr. Stangler said in an interview, company survival rates going back to 1977 show a negligible difference between companies founded in expansions and recessions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a negligible difference" to highlight that the variation between two or more things is so small that it doesn't warrant serious attention or concern.

Common error

Avoid using "a negligible difference" when the variation, although small, still has practical consequences or statistical significance. Quantify the difference whenever possible to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a negligible difference" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "difference". It indicates that the difference being referred to is so small as to be considered unimportant or insignificant. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's suitable for describing variations that have little to no practical impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a negligible difference" serves to diminish the importance of a variation, labeling it as insignificant enough to disregard. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English, indicating a difference so small it's nearly unnoticeable. Found most often in scientific and news contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral tone and can be used in formal writing to convey precision. While similar phrases like ""a trivial difference"" or ""an insignificant difference"" exist, it's important to use "a negligible difference" when the distinction truly warrants being considered of little consequence. Remember to avoid overstating the negligibility if the variation holds practical importance or statistical value. It's always a good idea to quantify the difference to maintain accuracy. Understanding these nuances ensures precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a practically nonexistent difference

Stresses that the difference is so small it's almost as if it doesn't exist.

an insignificant difference

Directly states that the difference holds no real importance.

virtually no difference

Emphasizes the near absence of any noticeable difference.

a trivial difference

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the difference, suggesting it's not worth considering.

hardly any difference

Indicates that the difference is difficult to detect or perceive.

a marginal difference

Highlights that the difference is at the very edge or boundary of significance.

a minor difference

Indicates a slight or unimportant variation.

a minimal variation

Focuses on the aspect of variation being extremely small.

a small difference

A general term for a difference that isn't large, but doesn't necessarily imply insignificance.

a hair's breadth difference

Uses an idiom to convey an extremely tiny difference.

FAQs

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

You can use "a negligible difference" to describe a situation where the distinction between two options is so small that it's practically unimportant. For example, "There was "a negligible difference" in fuel consumption between the two car models".

What are some alternatives to "a negligible difference"?

Alternatives include "a trivial difference", "a marginal difference", or "an insignificant difference", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a negligible difference" in formal writing?

Yes, "a negligible difference" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in scientific or technical contexts where precise comparisons are important. However, ensure the context genuinely warrants the description of negligibility.

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

"A negligible difference" indicates that the variation is so small as to be unimportant, while "a significant difference" means the variation is large enough to be noteworthy and potentially impactful.