a seemingly little

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a seemingly little" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to be small or insignificant at first glance, but may have more importance or impact than it seems. Example: "Despite being a seemingly little detail, the color choice had a significant effect on the overall design of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

TechCrunch

WikiHow

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The fact that the color wraps around the hardware to surface itself around the edges of the familiar front plate is a seemingly little touch that matters.

TechCrunch

You might pay a lot for a seemingly little amount, but you'll use only a small amount each time, so a bottle of lube lasts a long time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A team on the endangered franchise list of Major League Baseball, a team with seemingly little or no future without a new stadium that it cannot get?

The New York Times - Sports

Because they have not armies or large weapons, they us a life, with seemingly little meaning, to serve as a solution to misguided delusions.

Huffington Post

Nokia's doing a lot of seemingly little things that add up to make a big difference.

TechCrunch

JERUSALEM — They were an international odd couple with seemingly little in common, a 40-something African-American born in Hawaii and an octogenarian Zionist born in a shtetl in Poland.

The New York Times

Though overwhelmingly white, the guides are a disparate group with seemingly little to bind them.

The New York Times - Tech

The Archibald is a curious beast, with seemingly little rhyme or reason to the ebb and flow of quality in its paintings and subjects.

The Guardian - Arts

Stocks dipped on Wall Street after sinking in Europe on Friday as the Group of 20 nations ended a summit meeting with seemingly little headway in resolving the debt crisis in the euro zone.

The New York Times

This amazingly accomplished first feature by Ronald Bronstein, made with a crew of four for seemingly little more than the cost of film stock, throbs with energy and vision.

The New Yorker

Every aspect of a university, even those with seemingly little relevance to undergraduates, should be marshalled towards the definition of its identity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a seemingly little" to introduce an element or detail that might be underestimated in its importance or effect. This can add nuance and intrigue to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a seemingly little" when the described element is genuinely trivial or inconsequential. Overusing this phrase can weaken its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a seemingly little" functions as a descriptive modifier. It qualifies a noun by indicating that something appears to be small or insignificant at first glance. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in describing details or amounts that are underestimated.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a seemingly little" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that appears small or insignificant but may have more importance than it seems. Ludwig's analysis and examples indicate that it is most frequently found in news and media contexts, although its overall usage is relatively rare. While grammatically sound and understandable, it's beneficial to be mindful of context and frequency. Alternative phrases, such as "a seemingly insignificant" or "an apparently minor" detail, may sometimes be more appropriate depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a seemingly insignificant

Directly states the perceived lack of importance.

a seemingly trivial

Highlights the lack of perceived importance.

a seemingly negligible

Suggests the size is so small it can be ignored.

a deceptively small

Emphasizes the misleading nature of the small size.

an outwardly insignificant

Emphasizes the external appearance of unimportance.

an apparently minor

Highlights the superficial appearance of being unimportant.

an apparently negligible

Highlights the superficial appearance of being irrelevant.

a superficially trivial

Focuses on the surface-level lack of significance.

a deceptively minor

Emphasizes the misleading aspect of being unimportant.

a superficially small

Focuses on the misleading aspect of the smallness.

FAQs

What does "a seemingly little" mean?

It means something appears small or unimportant, but it may have a greater significance than initially perceived.

How can I use "a seemingly little" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an element or detail that might be underestimated in its importance or effect. For example: "That was "a seemingly little" change that made a big difference."

What can I say instead of "a seemingly little"?

You can use alternatives like "a seemingly insignificant" detail, "an apparently minor" issue, or "a deceptively small" thing depending on the context.

Is "a seemingly little" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, though it might be less common than alternatives like "a seemingly small" or "a seemingly insignificant".