a nominal increase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a nominal increase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant increase in a particular value or measurement, often in financial or statistical contexts. Example: "The company reported a nominal increase in revenue this quarter, indicating only a slight improvement compared to the previous period."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Weapons sales to developing nations reached $42.2 billion in 2008, only a nominal increase from the $41.1 billion in 2007.

The New York Times

Moreover, Acme could not be sure whether a nominal increase in list prices would even hit the bottom line.

Harvard Business Review

All of the studies showed a nominal increase in pressure drop.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Blazejowski said the Liberty had only a nominal increase in the price of playoff tickets this season, which range from $10 to $69.50.

The New York Times - Sports

The study predicts a nominal increase in this percentage, to about 17.5percentt for the 2000-2001 school year, but then the proportion is expected to drop to between 16 and 16.5percentt.

The New York Times - Tech

While this is a nominal increase of $750m compared with 2012-13, analysis by Guardian Australia shows it represents a cut of about $1.5bn in real terms when population growth and inflation are taken into account.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

It is worth asking whether this is a price worth paying for a purely nominal increase in British sovereignty".

The Guardian

The Tories propose the smallest increase in spending of the major parties: a 7% nominal increase from 2016-20 - a cash-terms freeze per pupil.

BBC

Uncertainties aside, how much remains that is worth having?By curbing the growth of entitlement spending on health ($115 billion less for Medicare and $15 billion less for Medicaid), the negotiators claim the budget will be in balance by 2002, despite a gross tax cut of $135 billion and a $60 billion-70 billion nominal increase over five years in discretionary domestic spending.

The Economist

That's a 30% nominal increase in three years.

Forbes

Labour, meanwhile, proposes a 7.7% nominal increase by keeping the budget rising in line with inflation - and for all 3-19 year-olds.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to downplay the importance of an increase, use "a nominal increase" to suggest it's not particularly significant. This can be useful in financial reports or when discussing minor changes.

Common error

Be careful not to use "a nominal increase" when you actually mean a substantial or inflation-adjusted increase. "Nominal" refers to the face value, while "real" refers to the value after accounting for inflation or other factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a nominal increase" primarily functions as a noun phrase that includes a determiner (a), an adjective (nominal), and a noun (increase). It modifies another noun, usually indicating a quantitative aspect of that noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a nominal increase" is a common phrase used to describe a slight or insignificant rise in quantity or value. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, it's crucial to distinguish between "nominal" and "real" values, ensuring accuracy in your writing. Related phrases like "a slight rise" or "a marginal gain" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight rise

Emphasizes the small degree of increase using a different adjective.

a marginal gain

Replaces "increase" with "gain", highlighting the benefit aspect of the small change.

a small increment

Uses "increment" to specify the step-by-step nature of the increase.

a modest uptick

Substitutes both adjectives and the noun to convey a gentle upward trend.

a negligible addition

Focuses on the unimportance of the increase using the word "negligible".

a symbolic addition

Highlighting that the increase is more symbolic than material.

an unsubstantial growth

Indicates that the increase is not significant in size or impact.

a barely perceptible increase

Emphasizes how difficult it is to notice the increase.

a token improvement

Indicates that increase is more symbolic than real.

a fractional increase

Highlights the very small and partial nature of the increase.

FAQs

How can I use "a nominal increase" in a sentence?

You can use "a nominal increase" to describe a small or insignificant rise in something. For example: "The company reported "a nominal increase" in profits this quarter."

What's the difference between "a nominal increase" and "a significant increase"?

"A nominal increase" refers to a small, often insignificant increase, while "a significant increase" indicates a large and important rise.

What can I say instead of "a nominal increase"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight increase", "a marginal gain", or "a small increment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a purely nominal increase"?

Yes, saying "a purely nominal increase" is correct. It emphasizes that the increase is nominal and doesn't represent a real change when factors like inflation are considered. You can see it used in the sentence: "It is worth asking whether this is a price worth paying for "a purely nominal increase" in British sovereignty."