a small contest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small contest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a competition that is limited in size, scope, or number of participants. Example: "We organized a small contest to encourage creativity among the students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Steep costs, as well as high barriers to entering this business, will restrict competition to a small contest among the titans of the industry.

Forbes

Bump will initially accept a small batch of devs (around 20) with the best ideas, and will also hold a small contest to encourage development.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ever since, state party leaders have agonized over whether to accept the sanctions and stand firm on Jan . 29or to yield and hold a smaller contest, like a caucus or vote-by-mail primary, later in the year.

The New York Times

Judo contests are fought on a mat ('tatami') which measures 14m x 14m, with a smaller contest area of 10m x 10m marked inside it.

BBC

With events including a small rap contest in Anchorage and a huge festival of African-American heritage in Baltimore, hundreds of thousands of Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, the day slavery in the United States effectively ended.

The New York Times

By the 1920s, Dr. Paris said, Color Wars composed of a series of small contests, from checkers to swimming races, were a staple of the camp experience.

The New York Times

And while shape of the glans didn't rank high on the list, it apparently wasn't completely off the radar of these women, which introduces an interesting new dimension for possible barroom contests; Brooklyn already has a smallest dick contest, but where's "Brooklyn's most beautiful glans"?

Vice

An while shape of the glans didn't rank high on the list, it apparently wasn't completely off the radar of these women, which introduces an interesting new dimension for possible barroom contests; Brooklyn already has a smallest dick contest, but where's "Brooklyn's most beautiful glans"?

Vice

In the middle of this, Dutch sex site SingleSex has run a "most beautiful penis" contest (what the qualifiers were baffle me -- smooth skin? foreskin looseness? presence of big vein on the dorsal side?), and has now started a "smallest penis" contest.

Huffington Post

Colorado's current audit software (RLATool) needs to be improved to audit these contests that cross county lines and to audit small contests efficiently.

University of California, Berkeley

There are still five more caucuses on the Democratic calendar, all of them very small contests and only two of them U.S. states: Wyoming, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and North Dakota.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a contest that is not widely known or recognized, use "a small contest" to set expectations and provide context for the audience.

Common error

Avoid using "a small contest" when the competition has significant implications or a large number of participants. Instead, use a more appropriate descriptor such as "major tournament" or "national competition".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small contest" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" is an adjective modifying the noun "contest". It serves to describe the size or scale of the competition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small contest" is a grammatically correct and generally understandable expression used to describe a competition limited in size or significance. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. While examples are somewhat rare, the phrase appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the scale of the competition to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives such as "a minor competition" or "a local competition" can provide nuanced descriptions depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor competition

Focuses on the insignificance of the competition.

a limited competition

Highlights the restricted nature of the competition.

a local competition

Emphasizes the geographical restriction.

a friendly competition

Focuses on the amicable nature of the contest.

a little competition

Uses a more informal term for small.

a modest competition

Emphasizes the simplicity and lack of grandeur.

an insignificant competition

Highlights the lack of importance.

a reduced competition

Emphasizes the reduced size or scope of the contest.

a miniature competition

Uses a more visual term for small.

a regional competition

Highlights the regional scope of the competition.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a small contest"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor competition", "a limited competition", or "a local competition" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a small contest"?

No, it's best used when the competition is indeed limited in scope, participation, or significance. Avoid using it if the contest has wider implications or involves a large group of people.

What's the difference between "a small contest" and "a minor competition"?

While similar, "a small contest" emphasizes the size or scale, whereas "a minor competition" highlights the lack of importance or significance.

How to use "a small contest" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a competition with limited participants or a local scope, such as: "The school organized a small contest to encourage students' creativity."