a small assurance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small assurance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to convey a minor level of confidence or guarantee about something. Example: "I can offer you a small assurance that the project will be completed on time, despite the challenges we are facing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This represents a small pilot observational quality assurance study.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Previously, DHS did not detain such families, but rather allowed them to pay a small bond as an assurance they would show up to their court dates.

Vice

In fact it appears unlikely that the US would sponsor a resolution against a small nation without the assurance that it would be passed.

Huffington Post

Bobbi, a small, contained dynamo, communicates the assurance that comes from being the founder of her wildly popular eponymous cosmetics line.

The New York Times - Magazine

He got two successive 3-month contracts, first to work in quality assurance for a small pharmaceutical company called Laboratoires Opodex Industrie and then on pharmacovigilance at Lundbeck.

Science Magazine

During the process of developing the quality assurance often a small group of interested representatives from different institutions worked together on different topics.

BMC Medical Education

The papers also indicate that the United States reached out to hostile Arabs three decades ago with an offer to work toward making Israel a "small friendly country" and with an assurance to Iraq that Washington had stopped backing Kurdish rebels.

The New York Times

It is hard to imagine that this much time is necessary for an adequate appeal, but offsetting the cost and delay is the assurance of only a small chance that an innocent person will be killed.

The New York Times

A small decrease in margin provides greater assurance of satisfactory effect, but the cost of the study will increase because more patients are required.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The nucleotide divergence between the S288c and YJM789 strains might also contribute to a small degree of loss of crossover assurance in the S288c/YJM789 hybrid as fewer E0s are observed in other S. cerevisiae strains (Kaback et al. 1989; Lao et al. 2013).

Genetics

These quality assurance activities are performed by a small group of developers, mainly the release team as who is in charge of continuous integration.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small assurance" when you want to convey a sense of cautious optimism or a limited guarantee, especially in situations where full certainty is not possible.

Common error

Avoid using "a small assurance" when the situation demands a strong guarantee or a firm promise; in those cases, opt for stronger language to accurately reflect the level of commitment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small assurance" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes something that provides a minimal degree of confidence or certainty. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, though not overly common.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small assurance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a limited degree of certainty or confidence. While Ludwig AI states the phrase is valid, its frequency is quite low, making it important to use it judiciously. Related phrases include ""a slight guarantee"" and ""a minor reassurance"", which offer similar nuances. When using "a small assurance", ensure the context aligns with the level of certainty you intend to convey, avoiding overstatements that might undermine your credibility. Finally, be aware of its frequency, as there are more frequently used terms that may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight guarantee

Replaces "assurance" with "guarantee" and "small" with "slight", emphasizing the limited nature of the guarantee.

a minor reassurance

Substitutes "assurance" with "reassurance" and "small" with "minor", highlighting the comforting aspect of the limited guarantee.

a limited promise

Replaces "assurance" with "promise" focusing on the commitment aspect, while "limited" replaces "small" to indicate its scope.

a modest pledge

Uses "pledge" instead of "assurance" to signify a formal promise, and "modest" replaces "small" to temper the commitment.

a degree of certainty

Replaces the whole expression with an indication of some but not complete confidence

a hint of confidence

Expresses a slight amount of confidence, rather than a direct assurance.

a whisper of hope

Conveys a very faint expectation or encouragement, implying a minimal level of assurance.

a tentative affirmation

Uses "affirmation" to suggest a declaration of support, qualified by "tentative" to denote its uncertainty.

a cautious undertaking

Replaces "assurance" with "undertaking", suggesting a commitment with possible reservations, emphasized by "cautious".

a qualified warranty

Uses warranty (typically for products) rather than assurance to show it is not an absolute guarantee.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small assurance" when you want to express a minor level of confidence or guarantee. For example: "I can offer you "a small assurance" that the project will be completed on time, despite the challenges we are facing."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "a small assurance"?

Alternatives to "a small assurance" include "a slight guarantee", "a minor reassurance", or "a limited promise", each conveying a limited sense of certainty or commitment.

Is it appropriate to use "a small assurance" in formal writing?

Yes, "a small assurance" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to express a limited level of confidence or guarantee without overstating the situation. However, consider stronger phrases if the context requires a more definitive statement.

What's the difference between "a small assurance" and "a guarantee"?

While "a guarantee" implies a firm commitment and certainty, "a small assurance" indicates a limited or cautious level of confidence. The choice depends on the degree of certainty you want to convey.