a small ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small ideas" is not correct in English.
It should be "a small idea" or "small ideas." You can use the correct form when referring to a singular or plural concept that is minor or not significant. Example: "I have a small idea that could improve our project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Most writers keep a small ideas notebook and pen/pencil on them for if this happens while you're not at home).. Write in pencil.

WikiHow

If this seems to risky to carry around, keep a small "ideas notebook" and transcribe the thoughts from it back into your journal at a later time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His "Big Society" flagship is seen as a small idea.

Independent

Any retailer can develop a good idea, especially a small idea with real character.

The New York Times

So you can say they've created a long word for a small idea, true.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"They started out with a small idea," he said, "and then it grew and it grew".

The New York Times - Arts

Not sure how we can fix this, but I have a small idea.

The Washington Post

As King said: "What we now need to have is entrepreneurs, to have not just a small idea but a small idea that can scale: an acorn that can grow into an oak".

The Guardian

I ask where the ideas come from and he says, "We could be on a ski trip or driving the car and a small idea suggests itself.

Independent

It has now grown to be on air six nights a week and is even a hit in the U.K. A small idea comes of age".

The New York Times

"They are intended to be finite projects, but you do find things that start off with a small idea and grow into something quite large".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. With singular nouns, use singular verbs and articles (e.g., "a small idea"). With plural nouns, use plural verbs and omit the article (e.g., "small ideas").

Common error

Avoid mixing singular articles with plural nouns. Saying "a small ideas" is grammatically incorrect. Choose either "a small idea" (singular) or "small ideas" (plural).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small ideas" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe a minor or insignificant concept. However, due to the grammatical error of using a singular article with a plural noun, its intended function is undermined. Ludwig AI indicates this is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a small ideas" is grammatically incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular article "a" and the plural noun "ideas". Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue. While it appears infrequently in diverse sources like news articles and wiki pages, it is not suitable for formal writing. Correct alternatives include "a small idea" (singular) or "small ideas" (plural). When aiming for clarity and correctness, it's best to avoid the original phrasing and opt for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small idea

Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular form of the noun.

small ideas

Corrects the grammatical error by using the plural form of the noun and removing the article "a".

a minor concept

Replaces "idea" with a synonym that conveys the sense of a thought or notion.

a little thought

Uses a more informal term ("thought") to represent the idea.

a simple notion

Substitutes "idea" with "notion" and "small" with "simple" to convey ease and lack of complexity.

a basic concept

Similar to "a simple notion", this highlights the fundamental nature of the idea.

a modest proposal

Implies the idea is humble and not overly ambitious.

a limited scope

Focuses on the restricted extent or range of the idea.

an insignificant plan

Highlights the perceived unimportance of the plan.

a trivial matter

Emphasizes that the idea is of little consequence.

FAQs

Is "a small ideas" grammatically correct?

No, "a small ideas" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "a small idea" (singular) or "small ideas" (plural).

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a minor concept", "a little thought", or simply "small ideas".

Which is correct, "a small ideas" or "a small idea"?

"A small idea" is correct. "A" is a singular article and should be used with singular nouns. "A small ideas" incorrectly pairs a singular article with a plural noun.

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

You can use "a small idea" in a sentence like this: "I have a small idea that might solve our problem."