a small piece

USAGE SUMMARY

'a small piece' is a grammatically correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to something that is small in size or something that is only a small part of a larger thing. For example: "I picked up a small piece of broken glass from the floor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A small piece.

The New York Times - Books

The cake -- a small piece -- is important".

The New York Times

A small piece, however, will ignite.

The New York Times

But a small piece was missing.

The New York Times

He found a small piece of agate.

The New York Times

"It was a small piece, you know.

The New York Times - Arts

It could be a small piece of it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They probably are, but only a small piece".

The New York Times

She was hoping for a small piece of salvation.

The New York Times

"Everybody wants a small piece of the dream.

The New York Times

I also got a small piece of the business.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small piece" to describe something tangible, consider the object's overall size. For example, "a small piece of cake" implies a different quantity than "a small piece of land".

Common error

Avoid using "a small piece" when describing something that is inherently minuscule. Saying "a small piece of an atom" is redundant, as atoms are already incredibly small. Use more precise terminology instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small piece" functions primarily as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a limited or reduced quantity of something. Ludwig shows numerous examples where it precedes nouns like 'cake', 'agate', or 'business', quantifying them.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

33%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small piece" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a limited portion or quantity of something. As Ludwig AI states, it’s suitable for various contexts, predominantly appearing in news, media and wiki sources. It's important to consider scale and context to avoid redundancy and maximize clarity, using alternatives like "a bit" or "a fraction" where appropriate. The phrase effectively communicates moderation and partitivity in written and spoken English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little bit

Focuses on quantity, suggesting a minimal amount.

a tiny fraction

Emphasizes the insignificance of the portion.

a minor segment

Highlights that the fragment is a not-so-important element from a biggest piece.

a limited portion

Stresses the restricted nature of the amount.

a reduced section

The action of making fragment smaller is pointed out.

a miniature fragment

Indicates a very small, broken-off part.

a slight portion

Focuses on the almost imperceptible dimension of that particular segment.

a negligible quantity

Highlights the small size of the portion to be an insubstantial one.

a trace amount

Suggests an extremely small and barely detectable quantity.

a modicum

Implies a limited or moderate amount of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small piece" to refer to a limited portion or fragment of something larger. For example: "I only ate "a small piece" of the pie" or "He needed "a small piece" of land to build his house".

What are some alternatives to saying "a small piece"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a little bit", "a tiny fraction", or "a minor segment" as alternatives to "a small piece".

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

While generally correct, avoid using "a small piece" when describing something already inherently tiny, as it can be redundant. In those cases, more precise or descriptive language might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "a small piece" and "a small slice"?

"A small piece" is a general term for a fragment or portion, while "a small slice" specifically implies a thin, flat segment, often cut from something like cake or bread. So, while a slice is a type of piece, not every piece is a slice.