a small pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small pay" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It typically means a low or insufficient amount of money received for work or services. Example: The workers were dissatisfied with their jobs due to the company's policy of providing only a small pay for their hard work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

This means a small pay hike for a few hundred-thousand whokers who do such things as wash laundry on military bases.

The Economist

The extension, for nearly fifty million dollars, marked a small pay cut from Bryant's annual thirty million, but it was enough to maintain his status as the league's best-compensated player, a distinction he has owned since 2009.

The New Yorker

If so, it can be the right long-term move even if you have to take a small pay cut or deal with a higher cost of living, she says.

The New York Times

"There, for nine years, I was working 10-12 hours a day, and paid £9,000 per annum for four years before I managed to get a small pay rise to £10,000.

The Guardian - Money

Whether a deal can be reached this weekend before the winter meetings begin, and whether Jeter might accept a contract that would contain even a small pay cut from the $18.9 million he averaged in a 10-year contract that ran from 2001 to 2010, remain to be seen.

The New York Times - Sports

Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "This staggering waste is an insult to the hard working nurses who were told just last week that there was not enough money for a small pay uplift to help cope with the rising cost of living.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"It's taking your passion and selling it out for a small pay-cheque.

The Guardian - Tech

Some also get a small pay-per-click fee when they refer a site and a user clicks on it.

The Washington Post

Already viewers have started cancelling their $70 cable or satellite subscriptions, and downloading their favourite television shows from online sites like Hulu or YouTube for nothing or, at most, a small pay-as-you-go fee.

The Economist

The co-op also has a small paid staff.

The New York Times

Though he has some high-profile contributors, he has a small paid staff and handles reporters' calls himself, on his cellphone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a small pay", consider the context and audience. For formal settings, alternatives like "modest salary" or "limited compensation" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "a small pay" when referring to temporary reductions in salary for high-earning positions; instead, specify that it's a "small pay cut".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small pay" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or complement in a sentence. It describes the amount of compensation received for work, implying that it is less than desired or expected. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small pay" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that signifies inadequate or low compensation for work. As Ludwig AI explains, it appears frequently in news and media contexts, often used to express concern about wages or financial situations. While alternatives like "modest salary" or "limited compensation" may be more appropriate in formal settings, the phrase remains widely understood and accepted in general discourse. When employing the phrase, it's crucial to consider the specific context and potential connotations to effectively communicate the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a modest salary

Replaces "pay" with "salary" and "small" with "modest", indicating a slightly more formal tone.

low compensation

Substitutes "pay" with "compensation" and "small" with "low", altering the lexical choice for a more professional feel.

a meager income

Replaces "pay" with "income" and "small" with "meager", suggesting a limited amount of money earned.

limited earnings

Uses "earnings" instead of "pay" and "limited" instead of "small", emphasizing the restricted nature of the income.

a reduced wage

Replaces "pay" with "wage" and "small" with "reduced", implying a decrease in the amount of money paid.

minimal remuneration

Substitutes "pay" with "remuneration" and "small" with "minimal", providing a more formal and technical expression.

a trifling payment

Replaces "pay" with "payment" and "small" with "trifling", highlighting the insignificance of the amount.

a pittance

Offers a more concise and emphatic way to express a very small amount of money received as pay.

inadequate compensation

Uses "inadequate" to describe the compensation, suggesting it is not sufficient for the work performed.

a skimpy wage

Employs the term "skimpy" to describe the wage, indicating it is less than what is expected or needed.

FAQs

What does "a small pay" mean?

The phrase "a small pay" refers to a low or insufficient amount of money received in exchange for work or services rendered. It suggests the compensation is less than expected or desired.

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

You can use alternatives like "a modest salary", "low compensation", or "a meager income" to express the same idea with slightly different connotations.

Is "a small pay" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "a small pay" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows standard grammatical rules and is widely understood.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "a small pay"?

The phrase "a small pay" is suitable in contexts where you want to express dissatisfaction or concern about low wages or earnings. It's often used in discussions about labor rights, economic inequality, or personal finances.