a small amount of material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small amount of material" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not a large quantity, often used to describe physical objects, such as, "I had a small amount of material left over from the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was working on the assumption that a small amount of material had been lost.

The Guardian

This series consists of a small amount of material kept by Barbara Kay.

Columbia University

There is also a small amount of material on courses in Admiralty and Equity.

Harvard University

The papers include a small amount of material from other individuals.

Columbia University

Noting evidence of rape, coroners were able to gather a small amount of material from the girls.

The New York Times

The collection includes his original Aikana field notebooks and photographs and a small amount of material for the Kwaza language.

University of California, Berkeley

The determination was made after the use of a new kind of radiocarbon dating that needs only a small amount of material.

The New York Times

THE fascination of a sacrifice of the exchange derives from the fact that even though only a small amount of material is involved, the consequences can be momentous.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"The question is, can you absorb all the light using a small amount of materials?" says Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science at Stanford University.

MIT Technology Review

In a 3D printer, one or more print heads extrudes a small amount of materials in precise locations to build objects point by point from the bottom up.

Huffington Post

The Preparation for Success program is presented as part of these regular duty activities and only requires a small amount of materials, but successfully promotes self-esteem, empowerment, and confidence by assisting inmates in practical job preparation skills such as filling out applications or drafting cover letters and resumes.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experimental procedures or scientific observations, use "a small amount of material" to precisely indicate the quantity involved. For example, "Only a small amount of material was needed for the analysis."

Common error

Avoid using "a small amount of material" when a more precise measurement is possible. If the quantity can be specified (e.g., in milligrams or milliliters), providing the exact measurement enhances the clarity and scientific rigor of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small amount of material" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. Ludwig indicates its correct usage. It typically quantifies a substance or resource in a limited quantity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

Academia

33%

News & Media

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small amount of material" is a versatile phrase used to describe a limited quantity of something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across diverse contexts, including science, academia, and news. While appropriate for both formal and informal writing, being precise with specific measurements is better in scientific contexts. This analysis highlights that this phrase is a common and acceptable way to express a limited quantity, supported by various examples from authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited quantity of material

Emphasizes the restriction on the amount available, focusing on scarcity.

a negligible quantity of material

Highlights the insignificance of the amount, suggesting it is barely worth considering.

a trace amount of material

Indicates an extremely small quantity, often at the edge of detectability.

a modicum of material

Suggests a barely sufficient or moderate amount, implying it might not be enough.

a tiny bit of material

Uses informal language to emphasize how little material there is.

a drop of material

Conveys the idea of a liquid or very fine substance, present in minimal quantity.

a fragment of material

Focuses on the material being incomplete or part of something larger, rather than quantity itself.

a speck of material

Implies that the material is granular, like dust or powder, and barely visible.

a particle of material

Emphasizes the individual unit of the material, which is quite small.

a scintilla of material

Implies that there is a tiny bit of material almost difficult to detect.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small amount of material" to describe a limited quantity of something. For example, "The experiment required only "a small amount of material" for accurate results."

What are some alternatives to saying "a small amount of material"?

Alternatives include "limited quantity of material", "negligible quantity of material", or "trace amount of material", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a small amount of material" versus "a large amount of material"?

Use "a small amount of material" when you want to emphasize the scarcity or limited quantity. Use "a large amount of material" when you want to highlight abundance.

Is "a small amount of material" a formal or informal way to express quantity?

"A small amount of material" is generally considered neutral and appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. For scientific writing, it's best to be as specific as possible with measurements, but the phrase is still acceptable.