a small gain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small gain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor improvement or increase in a particular context, such as finance, performance, or progress. Example: "After implementing the new strategy, we noticed a small gain in our sales figures over the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But analysts said much of the gain reflected heavy investment losses a year ago and a small gain this year.

The New York Times

Economists had expected a small gain.

The New York Times

Many analysts had expected a small gain.

The New York Times

A Small Gain Theorem for Parametric Assume-Guarantee Contracts.

University of California, Berkeley

But the National Bank of Greece managed a small gain.

The New York Times

Canada reported a small gain, but the others showed declines.

The New York Times

The Standard & Poor's index of 500 major American companies fell fractionally, despite a small gain yesterday.

The New York Times

Analysts had forecast a small gain, to 41 cents a share.

The New York Times

Blue chips dropped slightly, while technology shares managed a small gain.

The New York Times

Live cattle also slipped, but hogs managed a small gain on the year.

The New York Times

The stock had a small gain, rising 50 cents, to $12.25.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small gain" to contrast with larger gains or losses. It's helpful when you want to highlight the modest nature of a positive outcome amidst overall challenges.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of "a small gain". Ensure your language doesn't create an impression of substantial improvement when the actual benefit is minimal. Accurate context is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small gain" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It signifies a minor or modest increase, improvement, or advantage. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a small gain" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a minor improvement or increase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Its primary function is to objectively convey limited positive change, particularly in news, science, and business domains. While alternatives like "a slight increase" or "a modest improvement" exist, "a small gain" offers a precise and widely understood way to communicate incremental progress, provided one avoids overstating its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight increase

Changes the noun from "gain" to "increase", implying a minor upward adjustment.

a modest improvement

Replaces "gain" with "improvement", suggesting a positive change, but keeps the scale small.

a marginal advantage

Substitutes "gain" with "advantage", emphasizing a slight benefit.

a narrow victory

Uses "victory" instead of "gain", indicating a win by a small margin.

a limited progress

Replaces "gain" with "progress", highlighting a restricted advancement.

a minor upturn

Uses "upturn" to suggest a slight upward trend or change.

a fractional increase

Emphasizes the minute size of the increase.

a negligible profit

Highlights that the profit is so small, it's almost not worth considering.

a tiny benefit

Replaces "gain" with "benefit", stressing the insignificant size of the benefit.

a faint glimmer of hope

Emphasizes a minimal, positive sign.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small gain" to describe a minor improvement or positive result. For example, "The company reported "a small gain" in profits this quarter."

What's the difference between "a small gain" and "a significant gain"?

"A small gain" refers to a minor increase or improvement, while "a significant gain" indicates a substantial and noteworthy increase.

What can I say instead of "a small gain"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight increase", "a modest improvement", or "a marginal advantage" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "a small gain" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to accurately describe a minor improvement or positive result. It's a neutral and objective way to convey the information.