a negligible problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a negligible problem" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an issue that is so minor or insignificant that it does not warrant concern or attention. Example: "The software update fixed several bugs, but the remaining issue is just a negligible problem that can be addressed later."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

(Electoral fraud by impersonation in America is a negligible problem: such laws tend to be cynically enacted by right-wingers to suppress turnout among those that are most likely to vote against them).Yet perhaps the most depressing explanation is simply that in many places, young people do not feel that there is anyone worth voting for.

The Economist

We identified that RYO tobacco use is not a negligible problem among Canadian youth.

BMC Public Health

This is a negligible problem with estrone sulfate, being its levels reliably measurable by highly sensitive assay methods also in postmenopausal women.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

We identified that RYO tobacco use is not a negligible problem among Canadian youth smokers, as almost one in four reported currently using RYO tobacco.

BMC Public Health

Even amongst adolescents, consequences of pain are common, e.g., 8% of all 13 year olds and 34% of all 15-year olds seek health care for spinal pain in Denmark [ 5], and among those reporting recurrent LBP, 31% have refrained from participating in sport and physical activity and 26% have been absent from school [ 6], indicating that spinal pain in adolescence is not a negligible problem.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I got back a form reply, to the effect that anyone who has boarded an Atlanta flight at eight and hasn't eaten dinner is an isolated and negligible problem.

Forbes

Apart from the not negligible problem of pronouncing his name, Maddow understands the importance in storytelling of not telling the same story twice.

The New Yorker

Therefore, Symonds suggests, it is illogical to support an excessively rigid piece of legislation like the Labouchère Amendment that goes far beyond tackling the comparatively negligible problem of sexual corruption of boys.

English Studies

Therefore, optimization of storage capacity is a non-negligible problem for PV-storage systems in DSM programs.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Our study also highlights the power of whole genome sequencing to resolve issues arising from mixed genetic stocks, a non-negligible problem in Arabidopsis (Anastasio et al. 2011).

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

My own experience with these genomic data, obtained through the manual analysis of several hundreds of conserved genes, is that this represents a non-negligible problem, especially, in the case of RGC_CA: if the intron/exon prediction is incorrect for a single species at a highly conserved position, this will generate a RGC_CA.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a negligible problem" to downplay the significance of an issue when you want to reassure your audience that it does not warrant major concern or action.

Common error

Avoid using "a negligible problem" to dismiss genuine concerns or issues that require attention, as this can undermine trust and create the impression that you are not taking the situation seriously.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a negligible problem" functions as a noun phrase, where "negligible" modifies the noun "problem". It serves to categorize a specific issue as being of minimal importance or consequence. Ludwig examples show it is often used to downplay concerns or provide reassurance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a negligible problem" describes an issue that is so minor or insignificant that it doesn't warrant significant attention or concern. Ludwig's analysis shows that this phrase, while grammatically sound and primarily used in science and news media, is relatively rare. The phrase functions as a noun phrase intended to minimize concerns about a specific issue. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the issue is genuinely insignificant, as dismissing valid concerns can damage trust. Alternatives such as "a minor issue" or "a trivial matter" can be used depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor issue

Focuses more on the aspect of the situation being a concern, however insignificant.

a trivial matter

Emphasizes the lack of importance or seriousness.

an insignificant concern

Highlights the lack of worry or alarm that the problem warrants.

a small inconvenience

Highlights the disruption or annoyance the problem causes, however minimal.

a marginal difficulty

Suggests the problem exists at the edge of significance.

a petty annoyance

Focuses on the irritating nature of the problem, while still being unimportant.

a lightweight challenge

Emphasizes the ease with which the problem can be overcome.

a non-issue

Indicates the situation isn't really a problem at all.

a drop in the bucket

Uses a metaphor to convey the problem's small size relative to a larger context.

a moot point

Focuses on the irrelevance and lack of practical consequence of the problem.

FAQs

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

You can use "a negligible problem" to describe something that is so small or unimportant that it doesn't need much attention. For example: "The delay was "a negligible problem" compared to the overall success of the project."

What are some synonyms for "a negligible problem"?

Alternatives to "a negligible problem" include "a minor issue", "a trivial matter", or "an insignificant concern". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to describe something as "a negligible problem"?

It's appropriate to use "a negligible problem" when you want to reassure someone that an issue is not serious or won't have significant consequences. Be careful not to use it to dismiss valid concerns.

What's the difference between "a negligible problem" and "a small problem"?

While both phrases refer to issues that are not large or significant, "a negligible problem" suggests the issue is so unimportant that it can essentially be ignored. "A small problem", on the other hand, might still require some attention but is not expected to cause major difficulties.