a small amount of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small amount of work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a limited quantity of tasks or effort required for a particular job or project. Example: "I only have a small amount of work left to finish before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I also undertook a small amount of work experience at a software company in Hertfordshire.

The Guardian

There is also an abundance of package-specific literature, and a small amount of work at the basic, introductory level.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Such a small amount of work did not, I felt, merit anything close to the £3,500 they received that year from the three leaseholders.

The Guardian - Money

A small amount of work, therefore, is done in pushing the magnet into the coil and in pulling it out against the magnetic effect of the induced current.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A small amount of work is better than no work and this helps put people back on the work ladder". The involvement of local councils is essential to the success of the system.

The Guardian

It's a small amount of work that will likely impress recruiters and hiring managers, because it shows you to be enthusiastic and engaged with your industry.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In most cases, direct exfoliation of MQ2 into colloidal nanosheets is conducted in organic solvents, while a small amount of works report low-concentrated colloids in pure water.

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

A smaller amount of work than that seen in the front-loaded strategy is done if the players are allowed to defer inviting friends over a time period.

eLife

A: Small amounts of money works, but it's more about the support, the acknowledgement of the money.

TechCrunch

A spokesman for SSC explains: "We pay a lower fee if the school does a small amount of admin work.

The Guardian

EXT (extension of time) is an interim grade that may be requested by credit students who, due to extenuating circumstances that occur toward the end of the term, need additional time to submit a final assignment or a small amount of written work (one or two assignments not a classroom final exam after the course has ended).

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small amount of work", ensure the context clarifies what the work entails. Specificity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a small amount of work" when the task actually requires significant effort or time. Misrepresenting the scale can lead to unmet expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small amount of work" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the quantity of effort or tasks involved in a particular activity, indicating a limited scope.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small amount of work" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to indicate that a task or project requires minimal effort. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity, and the provided examples illustrate its widespread use across various contexts like news, science, and academia. While it's crucial to use the phrase accurately, avoiding exaggeration of task complexity, it remains a common and effective way to communicate manageability. Related alternatives include "minimal effort" and "minor task", which can provide nuanced expressions. The frequency of this expression across different reliable sources signals its importance in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minimal amount of work

Replaces "small" with "minimal", emphasizing the reduced nature of the work.

a tiny amount of work

Substitutes "small" with "tiny", indicating an even smaller portion of work.

a limited amount of work

Replaces "small" with "limited", highlighting the restricted nature of the work available or required.

a modicum of work

Uses "modicum" to denote a small quantity, lending a slightly more formal tone.

a bit of work

Offers a more informal alternative, using "bit" to indicate a small quantity.

a negligible amount of work

Replaces "small" with "negligible", indicating the work is so little it's almost insignificant.

a light workload

Shifts from amount to workload, focusing on the easiness or reduced task volume.

a trifling amount of work

Emphasizes the insignificance of the work using "trifling".

a minor task

Simplifies the phrase by directly stating the work is a small task.

a featherweight undertaking

Emphasizes easiness and lack of burden

FAQs

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

You can use "a small amount of work" to describe a task or project that requires minimal effort. For example, "Completing this report only requires "a small amount of work"".

What can I say instead of "a small amount of work"?

You can use alternatives like "minimal effort", "minor task", or "light workload" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a small amount of works"?

No, "a small amount of works" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""a small amount of work"". "Work" is often used as an uncountable noun in this context.

What's the difference between ""a small amount of work"" and "a lot of work"?

"A small amount of work" indicates minimal effort or time is needed, while "a lot of work" suggests the opposite – a significant undertaking.