a paltry amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a paltry amount of" is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically implies that whatever is being talked about is not enough or is far too small to be useful or meaningful. Example Sentence: She was offered a paltry amount of money as compensation for her lost wages due to the accident.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

You have a recalcitrant Republican Congress that wants to provide a paltry amount of justice for immigrants.

The New York Times

The Lightning never really threatened, managing a paltry amount of chances, before ultimately pulling Vasilevskiy for the extra attacker.

The Guardian - Sport

Rosalea stops by a mature Podocarpus, felled, she explains, by villagers to extract a paltry amount of honey from the upper trunk.

The Guardian - Travel

Foursquare still generates a paltry amount of revenue, but has smart partnerships with the New York Times, Condé Nast and other companies looking to cash in on the local media boom.

The Guardian - Tech

In my column this week, I wrote about how content I shared on Facebook saw a paltry amount of interaction unless I paid Facebook to highlight it on the company's signature news feed.

The New York Times

"In the context of the requirement, this is a paltry amount of funding," he says.The run on European bank-funding markets in some respects mirrors the one taking place in some government-bond markets.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The fines were $33 million, a paltry amount for a company of Toyota's size.

The New York Times

That would be bad news for consumers, but there is an upside to the looming shortage – it could finally spell good news for cocoa growers, many of whom receive a "paltry amount" for their product, says Harcourt-Cooze: "If a shortage meant cocoa farmers got high prices, it would make me smile".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But 200 megabytes is a paltry amount for a game.

The Guardian - Tech

A paltry amount for a terrorist attack.

Forbes

Character creation is now a feature of both single and multiplayer, though it offers a fairly paltry amount of actual creativity.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a paltry amount of" to express disappointment or criticism about something being insufficient. It's effective in contexts where more was expected or needed.

Common error

Avoid using "a paltry amount of" in purely objective descriptions where no judgment is intended. It adds a negative connotation that might be inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a paltry amount of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a quantity considered to be insignificantly small. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and readily usable in English writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a paltry amount of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a quantity that is disappointingly small. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and appropriate for use in written English. While most common in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, its use implies a degree of dissatisfaction or criticism. When a more neutral tone is desired, consider using alternatives like "a small amount of" or "an insufficient amount of". "A paltry amount of" is best employed when the intention is to express a negative judgment about a limited quantity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a negligible quantity of

Emphasizes that the quantity is so small it's practically ignorable.

a trivial quantity of

Suggests the amount is unimportant or insignificant.

a meager quantity of

Implies the amount is insufficient and barely adequate.

a scant quantity of

Highlights the scarcity or lack of the amount.

a derisory amount of

Indicates the amount is so small it's worthy of ridicule.

a trifling amount of

Conveys the amount is insignificant or of little value.

an insufficient quantity of

Directly states the amount is not enough.

a ridiculous quantity of

Emphasizes the absurdity of how small the amount is.

a pathetic quantity of

Suggests the amount is so small it's almost sad or pitiable.

a stingy amount of

implies the amount is small because someone was unwilling to give more

FAQs

How can I use "a paltry amount of" in a sentence?

Use "a paltry amount of" to express that something is much smaller or less significant than expected or desired. For example, "They offered "a paltry amount of" compensation for the damages."

What are some alternatives to "a paltry amount of"?

You can use alternatives such as "a meager amount of", "a trivial amount of", or "an insignificant amount of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a paltry amount of" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a paltry amount of" carries a slightly informal and judgmental tone. In formal writing, consider using more neutral alternatives like "a small amount of" or "an insufficient amount of" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a paltry amount of" and "a significant amount of"?

"A paltry amount of" indicates that something is very small and often disappointing, while "a significant amount of" means that something is large and important. They are antonyms.