a paltry contribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a paltry contribution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a contribution that is considered insignificant or meager in comparison to what is expected or needed. Example: "Despite the team's efforts, the funding received was merely a paltry contribution to the overall budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The taxes therefore make a paltry contribution to local coffers.China's government has talked about introducing a fully fledged tax on home ownership since 2003.

The Economist

Hence, industrial SMEs make a paltry contribution to generating employment in Iran.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Considering what they get to keep, it's a paltry contribution.

Huffington Post

Is your company making a paltry contribution to your 401(k) retirement account?

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Palin's paltry contribution will bring absolutely no turf--nor turnout--on behalf of Romney and reflects her merely covering her bets on the election.

Huffington Post

At another point, Mr. Gates referred to a NATO fund to pay for the training of the Afghan security forces as "a joke" because of paltry contributions from the European allies.

The New York Times

Environmentalists said the measures were paltry contributions to the fight against global warming.

The New York Times

It ishouldainly a bet worth takino.

Huffington Post

Russia and China, meanwhile, have contributed a paltry $17.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

The Guardian

Under the Reform Party banner, Mr Ventura refused any campaign contributions exceeding $50 and spent only a paltry sum during the campaign.

The Economist

By contrast, Kerry's total contributions from denizens of the sports world tallied a paltry $12,250.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a paltry contribution" when you want to emphasize the inadequacy or insignificance of something, particularly in comparison to a greater need or expectation. For example, 'The government's aid package was a paltry contribution to the disaster relief efforts.'

Common error

Avoid using "a paltry contribution" when you simply mean 'small'. The phrase carries a negative connotation, suggesting inadequacy or meanness. If there is no implication of insufficiency, opt for a neutral term like 'small' or 'modest'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a paltry contribution" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "paltry" modifies the noun "contribution". It describes the nature of the contribution as being small, meager, or insignificant. The phrase highlights the insufficiency of the contribution in a given context, similarly to what Ludwig suggests.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a paltry contribution" is a noun phrase used to describe something as being small, insignificant, and often inadequate. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, and based on the available examples, is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While it's a valid phrase, remember that "paltry" carries a slightly negative connotation, implying disappointment or insufficiency. When a negative meaning is not intended, alternatives such as "small" or "modest" might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a negligible contribution

Emphasizes the unimportance of the contribution.

an insignificant donation

Replaces 'paltry' with 'insignificant' and 'contribution' with 'donation'.

a meager offering

Uses 'meager' instead of 'paltry' and 'offering' instead of 'contribution'.

an unsubstantial donation

Replaces 'paltry' with 'unsubstantial' to highlight the lack of value.

a trifling amount

Substitutes both words with synonyms emphasizing smallness and unimportance.

a minimal input

Replaces 'paltry' with 'minimal' and 'contribution' with 'input'.

a nominal amount

Focuses on the fact that the amount is so small that it is almost non-existent.

a small offering

Uses simple synonyms for both words, making it less formal.

a chickenfeed contribution

An idiom to show how ridiculously small the contribution is.

a drop in the ocean

An idiomatic expression indicating that something is too small to make a noticeable difference.

FAQs

How to use "a paltry contribution" in a sentence?

Use "a paltry contribution" to describe something that is too small or insignificant to be useful or effective. For example: "The company's donation was "a paltry contribution" to the charity's fundraising goal."

What can I say instead of "a paltry contribution"?

You can use alternatives like "an insignificant donation", "a meager offering", or "a trifling amount" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a paltry contribution" or "a significant contribution"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have opposite meanings. "A paltry contribution" means a small or inadequate contribution, while "a significant contribution" means a large or important contribution.

What's the difference between "a paltry contribution" and "a small contribution"?

"A small contribution" simply describes the size of the contribution. "A paltry contribution" implies that the contribution is not only small but also inadequate or disappointing in the given context.