a small representation of

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'a small representation of' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a small part of something, as in a selection of options that represents a larger group. For example: "The menu offers a small representation of the restaurant's most popular dishes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It's a small representation of a long-term project".

The New York Times

These nine men and one woman are but a small representation of those who lived lives worth celebrating.

Princeton University

Below we give just a small representation of the varied systems work going on here, and invite you to visit the project and faculty web pages, as well as read our papers.

Cornell University

That allows you to almost hit the entire world because India is a small representation of that".

BBC

A small representation of his work, that is writings attributed solely to him, is included in Series 2 in Box 16.

Johns Hopkins University

Students were mostly urban psychology students and women, with only a small representation of math students majoring in other STEM disciplines, and men.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The S.& P. 500, which has a smaller representation of stocks that are particularly sensitive to the economy, fell further earlier in the year and recovered less at the end, to finish off 13percentt in 2001 after dropping 10.1percentt in 2000.

The New York Times

This may lead to a smaller representation of female prehospital provider's knowledge on the topic.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Noticeably the essential gene list is missing (or has only a small representation) genes of COG groups for essential pathways suggesting that multiple genes can substitute for each other.

BMC Genomics

Those who can keep at it, riding out the years of failed auditions and bit parts, "tend to have a private income, which means [acting is full] of a very small representation of the social demographic.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"They see the leadership battles, the partisan sniping.... It's a very small representation of Congress, but it's the Congress that Americans see".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small representation of", ensure the context clearly indicates what the larger entity is. This clarifies the scope and relevance of the representation.

Common error

Avoid treating "a small representation of" as fully comprehensive. It's crucial to acknowledge the inherent limitations and potential biases, which will prevent readers from drawing inaccurate conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small representation of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. As Ludwig indicates, it denotes a limited or incomplete view of something larger. It quantifies the extent to which something represents a broader entity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small representation of" is a noun phrase used to indicate that something is a limited or incomplete depiction of a larger entity. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and useful in various contexts, including news, academia, and science. Its usage implies that the audience should not consider the representation as exhaustive or fully comprehensive. This phrase is versatile and appropriate for conveying limitations or partial views. The examples given by Ludwig, coupled with its confirmation of correctness, highlight its utility in formal and neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited depiction of

Changes the noun to 'depiction' indicating a visual or descriptive portrayal, suggesting constraints on its completeness.

a partial reflection of

Replaces 'representation' with 'reflection' to imply a mirroring effect, suggesting it captures some but not all aspects.

a minor subset of

Emphasizes that it's a segment within a larger entity; replacing representation with subset clarifies the part-whole relationship.

a restricted sample of

Implies that the representation is obtained through sampling with boundaries; changing it to a sample underlines the limitations and method.

a concise illustration of

Uses illustration, specifying that the intent is to clarify with minimal detail.

a brief indication of

Indicates a quick, high-level sign or signal, switching from a complete "representation" to hinting at something larger.

a narrow selection from

Using "narrow selection" points to limitations in diversity and breadth, distinct from comprehensive representation.

a fractional exhibit of

Emphasizes displaying only parts; 'fractional exhibit' highlights incompleteness in how it is presented.

a token instance of

Highlights that the representation is just one possible event or member. It stresses singularity over complete coverage.

a sketched outline of

Using "sketched outline" stresses incompleteness and a lack of detail compared to the fuller nature of a complete "representation".

FAQs

How can I use "a small representation of" in a sentence?

Use "a small representation of" to indicate that what you are presenting is a limited or incomplete view of a larger whole. For example, "The exhibit is a small representation of the artist's complete works."

What phrases are similar to "a small representation of"?

Similar phrases include "a limited depiction of", "a partial reflection of", or "a minor subset of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a smaller representation of" instead of "a small representation of"?

"A smaller representation of"/<s/a+smaller+representation+of> is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning. The choice between them depends on the specific context and desired emphasis, where smaller is usually referring to size.

When is it inappropriate to use "a small representation of"?

It is inappropriate if what you are describing is, in fact, a comprehensive or complete view. Using the phrase in such cases would be misleading.