a small increment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small increment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a minor increase or change in a quantity, value, or measurement. Example: "To improve the performance of the system, we need to make a small increment in the processing speed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The last change in corporate average fuel economy standards for cars came in 1989 and in 1994, by a small increment, for light trucks.

The New York Times

Light truck standards were last raised, by a small increment, in 1994, while the standards for cars were last raised in 1989.

The New York Times

Define a small increment and let.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

With U below 50%, a small increment can be seen on spikes in (5 10] ms interval.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The carbon content of the substrate material shows a small increment, apparently affected by the roasting process.

International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Using our rigorous modeling and optimization approach, we show that coupling seawater desalination with solar collectors can lead to significant environmental savings at a small increment in cost.

Desalination

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

We have certainly refined it over the years — two publications just came out that recommended expanding the use of M.R.I. scans in women who have breast cancer or are at risk for it — but, as in this situation where the additional exam only identified 3percentt more cancers, each progressive development leads to a smaller increment in benefit.

The New York Times

This study found that slower GE was associated with a smaller increment in blood glucose in the healthy subjects, consistent with previous observations [ 25].

Critical Care

A smaller increment was observed in eNOS-/ mice while in the DDAH group there was almost no increase in glucose concentration.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

In support of the interpretation that the increased immunogenicity of PsaA-BLyS versus PsaA alone or PsaA + BLyS, TACI-deficient mice exhibited a smaller increment than TACI-expressing mice in the antibody response as a result of covalently linking BLyS to PsaA.

Biology Direct

Comparison with controls contemporary to the intervention renders a smaller increment, although this result may be biased by 'contamination' among the controls, especially in the Cartago area, as suggested by the increased incidence from the before to after periods within each control arm.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small increment", consider whether a more specific term would be more appropriate, such as "a minor adjustment" or "a slight increase", depending on the context. This enhances clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "a small increment" when the actual change is substantial. Misrepresenting a significant change as a small one can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small increment" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small increment" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase to describe a minor increase or addition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for use in various contexts. It is most frequently found in scientific and news-related sources, indicating a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the magnitude of the change you are describing and consider if a more specific term, such as "a minor adjustment" or "a slight increase", would provide greater clarity. Avoid overstating the significance of a change by misrepresenting it as "a small increment" when it is, in fact, substantial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor increase

Emphasizes the insignificance of the increase.

a slight addition

Focuses on the act of adding something small.

a marginal gain

Highlights the benefit obtained from the small increase.

a modest rise

Suggests the increase is within reasonable limits.

a tiny boost

Implies the increase provides a helpful push forward.

a fractional increase

Indicates the increase is only a small fraction of the total.

a negligible addition

Stresses that the increase is so small it's almost not worth considering.

a subtle enhancement

Highlights that the improvement is not immediately obvious.

a limited advance

Indicates that the progress made is restricted in scope or scale.

a diminutive escalation

Uses more formal language to convey the small size and upward direction.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small increment" to describe a minor increase or addition in various contexts. For example, "The company saw "a small increment" in profits this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "a small increment"?

Alternatives to "a small increment" include "a minor increase", "a slight addition", or "a marginal gain". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "a small increment"?

While grammatically correct, using "a small increment" might be misleading if the actual change is significant. Ensure the phrase accurately reflects the magnitude of the increase.

What is the difference between "a small increment" and "a large increment"?

"A small increment" refers to a minor increase, while "a large increment" signifies a substantial increase. Using the appropriate phrase is crucial for accurate communication.