a small royalty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small royalty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a minor payment or fee made to an author, artist, or inventor for the use of their work or intellectual property. Example: "The author received a small royalty for each book sold, which helped support her writing career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Gilead will get a small royalty for every copy sold.

The New York Times

In return, the government in Baghdad would get a small royalty on each barrel produced.

The New Yorker

Glaxo Wellcome, the British drug giant, will get a small royalty from any sales of IC351.

The New York Times

Now Lowe's, which will pay her a small royalty, could begin selling houses by the thousands.

The New York Times

If you hear a song in a cafe, Apra Amcos collects a small royalty for the artist.

The Guardian - Music

Companies using ARM's chip architecture pay a licence fee, and a small royalty on each chip or wafer.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Furthermore, the companies want to pay artists a smaller royalty for downloads for a product with zero manufacturing cost.

Forbes

Unusually for the time the deal included recording an album, which meant the band had unlimited studio time at EMI Studios, in return for a smaller royalty percentage.

Wikipedia

Which just leaves the hard financial argument: publishers are slashing advances, and yet still only pay a very small royalty on each sale to authors – a couple of dollars tops on a $10 paperback, often far less.

TechCrunch

After two very successful books, I realized the weird paradox of the publishing business that every author eventually learns: It's terribly exploitive of authors (paying them a very small royalty on sales), yet it doesn't even do a good job maximizing overall revenue from book sales.

HuffPost

More significant, in lieu of earning a small patent royalty fee from a customer buying a rival phone, Apple could instead perhaps pocket 10 times as much profit upfront from an iPhone sale, and earn potentially much more from advertising, music, app and other sales.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When negotiating contracts involving intellectual property or resource extraction, specify the exact percentage or amount that constitutes "a small royalty" to avoid future disputes.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a small royalty" will automatically translate to significant income. Carefully consider the potential sales volume or usage frequency to determine if the royalty is truly worthwhile.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small royalty" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small royalty" refers to a minor payment made to a rights holder for the authorized use of their intellectual property or resources. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, especially in News & Media. The expert rating highlights the phrase's grammatical correctness, authoritative sources, and consistent usage. Related phrases, like "a modest royalty" or "a tiny royalty", offer alternative ways to express the same concept with slightly different emphasis. While "a small royalty" is generally better than no royalty, it's important to carefully assess its actual value and administrative costs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a modest royalty

Replaces "small" with "modest", suggesting a slightly more significant but still relatively low royalty amount.

a tiny royalty

Substitutes "small" with "tiny", emphasizing the insignificance of the royalty payment.

a nominal royalty

Replaces "small" with "nominal", highlighting that the royalty is minimal or symbolic.

a minor royalty

Uses "minor" instead of "small", indicating that the royalty is of lesser importance or value.

a low royalty

Emphasizes the low value of the royalty payment.

a marginal royalty

Highlights that the royalty payment is at the margin, barely significant.

a reduced royalty

Implies a decrease in the original royalty rate.

a fractional royalty

Suggests that the royalty represents a small fraction of total revenue.

a token royalty

Indicates that the royalty is symbolic and not necessarily a substantial amount.

a negligible royalty

Emphasizes the unimportance of the royalty because it is so insignificant.

FAQs

How is "a small royalty" typically calculated?

The calculation of "a small royalty" varies, but it's usually a percentage of revenue or profit from the sale or use of a product, resource, or intellectual property. The exact percentage depends on the specific agreement between the parties involved.

What factors determine whether a royalty is considered "small"?

Whether a royalty is considered "small" depends on several factors, including industry standards, the value of the underlying asset or intellectual property, and the negotiating power of the parties involved. What's considered small in one context may be substantial in another.

What are some alternatives to receiving "a small royalty"?

Instead of receiving "a small royalty", one might negotiate for a fixed upfront payment, a larger percentage of profits, or a combination of both. Other options include equity in the company or a share of future revenue streams.

Is "a small royalty" always better than no royalty at all?

While "a small royalty" is generally better than nothing, it's important to consider the administrative costs and potential complexities of tracking and receiving royalty payments. In some cases, a simpler, one-time payment may be more beneficial.