a small alteration in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small alteration in" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a minor change or adjustment in something, such as a document, plan, or design. Example: "After reviewing the proposal, I realized that a small alteration in the budget could significantly improve our chances of approval."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

However, many of these genes only showed a small alteration in expression level between antibiotic treated and control animals.

Plosone

The authors identified thirteen genes whose expression was affected by a small alteration in nuclear Ca2+ concentration.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Cirrhotic patients have been reported to exhibit an almost unaltered cardiac output and a small alteration in vascular resistance from daytime to nighttime [ 16, 17].

BMC Gastroenterology

When stratified analysis was additionally adjusted for BMI, there is only a small alteration in estimates as HRs were slightly lower.

Heart

A small alteration in length (dL) within a small time segment (dt) is related to the velocities of the endpoints of the object: d L = v 1 − v 2 L. Using this technique in the ultrasound loops, the image lines are divided in small distances (offset) in this study by 8 mm and regional velocities within each offset is calculated several times.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We also found the lasing mode is switchable upon a very small alteration in the refractive index of the materials present in the photonic crystal.

Photonics and Nanostructures - Fundamentals and Applications

Critically, we demonstrated that a very small alteration in the level of BAX was the difference between prolonged cell survival and rapid onset cell death.

BMC Cancer

Eventually he tracked the difference down to a small alteration he had inadvertently made in transferring the initial data, by altering the number of decimal places.

BBC

Given that remapping in CA1 is less sensitive to changes in environmental cues compared to CA3 and the DG (Leutgeb et al., 2004, 2007), the small alteration in our experiment may not be significant enough to trigger a global remapping of CA1 neurons, although it remains possible that the firing patterns of activated neurons may be different.

eLife

Appropriate collimators have been designed for each of the radiography modes with small alteration in the dimensions of the unit which are dependents of the neutron spectrum of the generator.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Innately, I fear that if I make one small alteration in the wrong direction, then I will lose all the love: her love and the love of the universe.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small alteration in", ensure the context clarifies what is being altered and the impact of that alteration, even if minor. For example, "a small alteration in the dosage" implies a change with potential health consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "a small alteration in" when the actual change is significant. This can mislead the reader about the true extent of the modification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small alteration in" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a minor adjustment or modification within a specified context. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small alteration in" is used to describe minor modifications or adjustments, often in scientific or technical contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not frequently used, it accurately conveys the idea of a limited change. Related phrases include "a slight modification to" and "a minor adjustment to". When using this phrase, it is important to clearly define what is being altered and the potential impact, however minimal. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific literature and news media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight modification to

Focuses on the act of modifying something slightly.

a minor adjustment to

Emphasizes the idea of adjusting something in a small way.

a subtle change in

Highlights the subtlety of the change.

a marginal difference in

Stresses the minimal impact of the difference.

a negligible variation in

Underscores the insignificance of the variation.

a tiny shift in

Draws attention to the small size of the shift.

a minimal amendment to

Highlights a formal or legal aspect of modification.

a fractional revision of

Emphasizes the small portion that is revised.

a limited alteration of

Highlights that alteration is bounded to a limited scope.

a superficial modification in

Emphasizes that modification is only on the surface.

FAQs

How can I use "a small alteration in" in a sentence?

You can use "a small alteration in" to describe minor changes. For example, "A small alteration in the design improved its functionality."

What's a synonym for "a small alteration in"?

Alternatives include "a slight modification to", "a minor adjustment to", or "a subtle change in".

Is it better to say "a small change in" or "a small alteration in"?

Both "a small change in" and "a small alteration in" are correct; "change" is more general, while "alteration" implies a more deliberate or structured modification.

What does "a small alteration in" typically refer to?

"A small alteration in" generally refers to minor modifications in design, quantity, or process which might cause noticeable but not necessarily significant differences.