a seemingly trivial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a seemingly trivial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to be unimportant or insignificant at first glance, but may have deeper implications or relevance. Example: "The study focused on a seemingly trivial detail that ultimately changed the course of the research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Sometimes it's a seemingly trivial or unrelated detail that helps us uncover the diagnosis.

The Guardian - Opinion

A seemingly trivial example is that it's impossible to catch a virus from someone who is not yet infected.

MIT Technology Review

This fact was demonstrated the other day by the flap that followed a seemingly trivial typograph ical error.

The New York Times

The latest agreement collapsed Tuesday, in a familiar cacophony of complaints and countercomplaints, and again over a seemingly trivial issue.

The New York Times

When someone "throws out" their low back with a seemingly trivial movement (putting on socks), it was most likely a long time coming.

Harvard University

For the men who ran the network, a seemingly trivial disagreement over booking guests was about to become a matter of dire consequence.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

At some point, she decided to give it another try and managed to make her bed four days in a row--a seemingly trivial feat.

Huffington Post

As a metaphor, the butterfly effect has come to signify a series of seemingly trivial and unrelated events that collectively have a massive impact later, whether in causing storms or influencing the stock market.

MIT Technology Review

Information security affects, and is affected by, all individuals in an organization, and seemingly trivial errors by a single user can have existential consequences.

Harvard Business Review

As a journalist, the idea of getting something wrong in a story – no matter how seemingly trivial a detail – and then having it pointed out by some all-too-eager troll in the comments section gives me the cold, primal fear of a drowning polar bear.

Vice

The differences have been apparent in a series of seemingly trivial disputes that have sparked protests or gone viral on the internet.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a seemingly trivial", be sure to provide enough context to demonstrate how the seemingly unimportant element connects to the larger narrative or issue. Avoid leaving the reader wondering why the detail matters.

Common error

Avoid using "a seemingly trivial" when the subject is clearly significant from the outset. The phrase works best when there's a genuine initial perception of unimportance that is later subverted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a seemingly trivial" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by attributing to it a quality of apparent unimportance. It sets up a contrast between initial perception and potential underlying significance, as evidenced by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

23%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a seemingly trivial" is a common and grammatically sound adjectival modifier used to describe something that appears unimportant on the surface but may hold hidden significance. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and provides ample examples across diverse sources like News & Media, Science, and Academia. Related phrases include "apparently insignificant" and "superficially unimportant", each bringing subtle nuances. Effective usage involves setting up a contrast between initial perception and eventual importance, while common errors include misapplying the phrase to subjects that are obviously significant from the start. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively use "a seemingly trivial" to add depth and complexity to their narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an apparently insignificant

Focuses on the lack of noticeable importance.

a superficially unimportant

Emphasizes that the lack of importance is only on the surface.

a seemingly inconsequential

Stresses the lack of consequence or impact.

a deceptively minor

Highlights that the smallness is misleading.

an ostensibly unimportant

Highlights that the lack of importance is what is claimed or appears to be true.

a trivially insignificant

Conveys a stronger sense of unimportance.

a negligible

A more concise way of expressing minimal importance.

a trifling

Highlights the insignificance and lack of value.

a petty

Suggests small-mindedness or ungenerosity in addition to insignificance.

a minor

Simple term indicating something small in scale or importance.

FAQs

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

You can use "a seemingly trivial" to introduce a detail that appears unimportant at first but later proves to have significant consequences. For instance, "A seemingly trivial error in the code caused the entire system to crash".

What phrases are similar to "a seemingly trivial"?

Alternatives include "apparently insignificant", "superficially unimportant", or "deceptively minor". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "an seemingly trivial" instead of "a seemingly trivial"?

No, the correct article is "a" because "seemingly" begins with a consonant sound. "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What is the difference between "a seemingly trivial" and "a truly trivial"?

"A seemingly trivial" suggests something appears unimportant but may not be, while "a truly trivial" indicates something that is actually unimportant in all respects.