a small flaw

USAGE SUMMARY

"a small flaw" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a minor imperfection or mistake. For example, "The painting was beautiful, but there was a small flaw in the corner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

So it wasn't just a small flaw.

Harvard Business Review

But this is a small flaw.

The New York Times - Books

It's a small flaw in an otherwise compelling book.

The Guardian - Books

This is, however, a small flaw in what is largely a successful book.

The New York Times - Books

But there was a small flaw in the plan, which this most famous of moves inadvertently illustrated.

The Guardian - Sport

The Volt has been widely praised by reviewers and owners, but even a small flaw threatens to give the company a black eye.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

This Rudy Giuliani was always a hero with just a few small flaws (like his temper).

The New York Times

But before you go canceling lines and changing calling plans, consider a few small flaws.

The New York Times

There is arguably one small flaw, which is: a) perhaps a very personal one; and b) probably the same reason that Clone Wars underwhelmed – a lack of familiarity with the source material.

The Guardian - Tech

"A small design flaw," he said.

The New Yorker

But it had a small technical flaw, which allowed an un-named user to siphon of $55 million of the money raised in a matter of days.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small flaw", ensure that the context clearly indicates the overall quality or functionality is not severely impacted by the flaw. Use it to downplay the significance of an imperfection.

Common error

Avoid using "a small flaw" when the imperfection actually has a significant negative impact. This can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. If the flaw matters, be direct about its consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small flaw" functions as a noun phrase, where 'small' modifies 'flaw'. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It is frequently employed to acknowledge an imperfection while minimizing its significance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small flaw" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that serves to diminish the importance of an imperfection. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Scientific, and Academic contexts, it offers a balanced perspective by acknowledging a defect without overstating its impact. When using this phrase, ensure the flaw genuinely does not have severe consequences to maintain credibility. Related phrases such as ""a minor imperfection"" or ""a slight defect"" can provide nuanced alternatives, depending on the specific context and the degree to which you want to downplay the issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor imperfection

Replaces "flaw" with "imperfection" and "small" with "minor", emphasizing the insignificant nature of the defect.

a tiny imperfection

Replaces "small" with "tiny", emphasizing the extremely small size of the imperfection.

a slight defect

Substitutes "flaw" with "defect" and "small" with "slight", maintaining a focus on a barely noticeable issue.

a trivial fault

Replaces "flaw" with "fault" and "small" with "trivial", highlighting the insignificance of the error.

a negligible blemish

Changes "flaw" to "blemish" and "small" to "negligible", suggesting an almost invisible imperfection.

a minor glitch

Replaces "flaw" with the more technical term "glitch", suggesting a small malfunction.

a slight error

Replaces "flaw" with "error" and "small" with "slight", focusing on a minor mistake.

a minor shortcoming

Substitutes "flaw" with "shortcoming", suggesting a slight deficiency.

a trivial issue

Replaces "flaw" with "issue", conveying that the imperfection is not a significant problem.

a minor problem

Substitutes "flaw" with "problem", indicating a small and potentially easily solvable issue.

FAQs

What does it mean to say something has "a small flaw"?

Saying something has "a small flaw" means it has a minor imperfection or defect that does not significantly affect its overall quality or function.

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

You can use "a small flaw" to acknowledge a minor imperfection while emphasizing that it's not a major issue. For example, "The design had "a small flaw", but overall it was excellent."

What are some alternatives to saying "a small flaw"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor imperfection", "a slight defect", or "a trivial fault", depending on the context.

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

Yes, "a small flaw" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when providing balanced assessments. However, ensure the tone matches the context, and consider using more precise language if necessary.