a small amount of ice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small amount of ice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a quantity of ice that is minimal or not significant, often in contexts related to beverages or weather conditions. Example: "I prefer my drink with a small amount of ice to keep it cool without diluting the flavor too much."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In 2004, on 86 acres sold to him by his employer, Mr. Barthomeuf and a partner, Louise Dupuis, opened Clos Saragnat, where they concentrate on making ice wine and cider liqueurs, and a small amount of ice cider as well.

The New York Times - Travel

"It just takes a small amount of ice to make roads and sidewalks a skating rink," a meteorologist warned.

HuffPost

A document written by Fokker before the accident detailed the effect of ice on the wing of an F28 warned that an "uncontrollable roll" would begin even with a small amount of ice on the wings.

Wikipedia

When only a small amount of ice remained, the vials were sterilized with 70% ethanol; any remaining ethanol was allowed to evaporate before the vial was opened.

Human Reproduction

If a journey of more than 33 minutes with ambient temperatures greater than 15°C is contemplated, they should be placed in a domestic cool box and transported with a small amount of ice.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Do not use a water bath to defrost a sample; the sample can be warmed by using your hand to the point at which a small amount of ice remains, thus indicating that the sample temperature is still close to 0 ° C. If required, remove a suitable aliquot for protein content determination (10 20 μl) and store it separately.

Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Electroactive films of ecTrxR were similarly obtained by first poising a freshly polished PGE at −510 mV in a protein-free cell solution for 5 min. Then, 1.0 μL of ecTrxR (260 μM) was directly added to the electrode tip, and excess protein was removed by washing with a small amount of ice-cold buffer.

Biochemistry

Pipe a small amount of icing onto the top of the rose nail, and then press a small square of wax paper onto the icing, using the icing to hold the paper and nail together.

WikiHow

Perinatal brain tissues obtained at autopsy from a 28-week gestation age infant were frozen in dry ice, and grounded in a cold mortar containing a small amount of dry ice.

British Journal of Cancer

In the south, where a small carbon dioxide cap remains in summer and only a small amount of water ice has been detected, a strong water vapour gradient does not normally develop in the atmosphere.

Britannica

Because of the angle of the wings, even a very small amount of ice could have devastating effects.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to chill a beverage, specifying "a small amount of ice" helps avoid over-dilution, maintaining the drink's intended flavor profile.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "a small amount of ice" in highly formal or technical writing; opt for more precise measurements or descriptive terms like "minimal ice" or "trace amounts of ice" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small amount of ice" functions as a modifier specifying the quantity of ice. It is typically used as a noun adjunct, indicating a limited or minimal quantity, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a small amount of ice" is grammatically correct and serves to quantify a minimal quantity of ice. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. While not excessively common, it's consistently found in sources like WikiHow, The New York Times, and scientific publications. Therefore it's generally used in neutral situations and is suitable for instructions or preferences where over-dilution is a concern. Related phrases include "a touch of ice" or "minimal ice", offering similar descriptive options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a touch of ice

Emphasizes a very slight presence, almost imperceptible.

a dash of ice

Suggests a quick and minimal addition of ice.

a trace of ice

Implies an extremely small or barely noticeable amount of ice.

a hint of ice

Indicates a subtle presence of ice.

a sliver of ice

Refers to a thin, small piece of ice.

a scattering of ice

Suggests a sparse and light distribution of ice.

a dusting of ice

Implies a fine layer or coating of ice.

minimal ice

Directly states that the quantity of ice is very small.

a modicum of ice

Uses a more formal word for a small quantity.

a negligible amount of ice

Highlights that the quantity of ice is so small it's practically insignificant.

FAQs

How can I use "a small amount of ice" in a sentence?

You can use "a small amount of ice" to describe a minimal quantity of ice, for instance, "I only want "a small amount of ice" in my drink".

What's an alternative to saying "a small amount of ice"?

Consider using phrases like "a little ice", "a touch of ice", or "minimal ice" as alternatives.

Is it better to say "a little ice" or "a small amount of ice"?

Both "a little ice" and ""a small amount of ice"" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice depends on the desired level of formality; "a little ice" is slightly more informal.

In what situations should I avoid using "a small amount of ice"?

While generally acceptable, avoid using ""a small amount of ice"" in technical contexts where precise measurements are necessary. Use more specific terms instead.