a small imbalance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small imbalance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor discrepancy or unevenness in a situation, measurement, or system. Example: "The experiment showed a small imbalance in the results, indicating that further adjustments were needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Just as you need only a small imbalance between the number of people joining a queue and the number leaving it to produce a long, slow-moving line, so in marriage, a small difference in the adult sex ratio can produce huge numbers of bachelors.

The Economist

Though these types of datasets are relatively small with only a small imbalance of Actives and Inactives, the classifiers have not been very successful at predicting the bioassay's active compounds.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Capable of detecting a small imbalance with a large bias, the percept sequence undoubtedly is much more sensitive to the stimulus imbalance than does the percept duration.

Plosone

The probe eye condition had a significant (F 1,3) = 28.75, p = 0.013) but small effect: the mean ratio of the perceived contrast of the cyclopean grating measured with the probe in the dominant (left) and non-dominant (right) eye is 1.06±0.03, indicating a small imbalance of the two eyes in binocular contrast combination (i.e., one eye is slightly more dominant than the other).

Plosone

There was a small imbalance in ECOG status in the ITT population with 70% of placebo patients having a status of 1 vs 64% of marimastat patients.

British Journal of Cancer

First, blinding was not possible for evaluating outcome and there was a small imbalance in comorbidities that could determine case-mix differences between groups.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The variation of the randomisation ratio by year of birth induced an age imbalance (albeit a very small imbalance) between study and control groups.

Breast Cancer Research

A surprisingly small imbalance, just ten extra calories a day, has driven the 9kg jump in the average American's weight over the past 30 years.

The Economist

Debunking a Long-Used Rule According to the researchers, it is easy to gain weight unwittingly from a very small imbalance in the number of calories consumed over calories used.

The New York Times - Health

Therefore, introducing a small stimulus imbalance affects the percept sequence, whereas increasing the imbalance affects the percept duration, but not vice versa.

Plosone

Even a small mass imbalance may produce large centrifugal forces that are balanced by the spring action of the shaft, causing the system to vibrate excessively.

Incompressible Flow Turbomachines Design, Selection, Applications, and Theory

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small imbalance", ensure the context clearly indicates what elements are out of balance. This enhances precision and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a small imbalance" when a larger discrepancy exists. Using "a small imbalance" for significant issues undermines the gravity of the situation and can mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small imbalance" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It describes a state of slight disproportion or lack of equilibrium, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small imbalance" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for describing a minor discrepancy or lack of equilibrium. While not extremely common, it finds frequent use in scientific and news-related contexts. Ludwig's analysis confirms that the phrase is correct and usable. To maximize clarity, ensure the context specifies what is imbalanced. While similar alternatives exist, such as "slight disparity" and "minor discrepancy", the specific choice depends on the intended nuance. Avoid using the phrase when a more significant imbalance exists, as this can downplay the importance of the issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight disparity

Replaces "imbalance" with "disparity", indicating a difference that is not necessarily about equilibrium but about equality.

minor discrepancy

Substitutes "imbalance" with "discrepancy", focusing on a lack of agreement or consistency rather than a lack of balance.

tiny asymmetry

Replaces "small imbalance" with "tiny asymmetry", highlighting the lack of symmetry instead of balance.

marginal difference

Emphasizes the slightness of the difference, suitable when comparing values or amounts.

minimal variation

Highlights a slight change or deviation from a norm.

subtle disproportion

Focuses on the lack of proportion between elements, indicating an uneven distribution.

modest irregularity

Replaces "imbalance" with "irregularity", focusing on the departure from what is standard or expected.

a touch of unbalance

Uses a more figurative and less technical term, suitable for less formal contexts.

faint inequality

Highlights the lack of equality, suggesting that one side is slightly more or less than the other.

negligible bias

Focuses on a slight inclination or prejudice in one direction.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small imbalance" to describe a minor discrepancy or unevenness. For example: "The experiment showed "a small imbalance" in the results, indicating that further adjustments were needed."

What phrases are similar to "a small imbalance"?

Alternatives include "slight disparity", "minor discrepancy", or "tiny asymmetry". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

No, it's important to consider the magnitude of the discrepancy. If the imbalance is significant, using a stronger term like "significant difference" or "major disparity" is more appropriate.

What's the difference between "a small imbalance" and "a minor error"?

"A small imbalance" refers to a state of unevenness or disequilibrium, while "a minor error" indicates a mistake or inaccuracy. They are not interchangeable.