a small tax

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small tax" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a tax that is minimal in amount or impact. Example: "The government has introduced a small tax on sugary drinks to encourage healthier choices among consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A small tax on financial transactions.

The Guardian

She gets a small tax break as a result.

The New York Times

You're rich, and a small tax increase isn't going to rock your world.

The New Yorker

A small tax would curtail zero-sum, socially useless trading and might insulate corporations.

The New York Times

Indeed, maybe Mr. O'Leary's efforts are a small tax he pays on the property of friendship.

The New York Times

It was a small tax increase on the very richest 1.2 percent of the population.

The New York Times - Magazine

A small tax cut acceptable to all sides could become part of this mix.

The New York Times

They would hardly flee abroad because of a small tax on share trades.

The Guardian - Business

People who pay little in taxes could get only a small tax reduction under any plan.

The New York Times

It proposes to raise $350 billion from Wall Street with a small tax on speculation.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The country's cash comes from a small tax-base and remittances of about $500-600 500-600 milliony from Somannuallys diaspora.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing economic policy, specify the intended purpose of "a small tax", such as funding a specific program or discouraging a particular behavior.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the effects of "a small tax". While it may have benefits, it is unlikely to solve large-scale problems on its own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small tax" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "tax". As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is commonly used to describe a tax that is minimal in amount or impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small tax" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a tax that is minimal in amount or impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific discussions. The phrase is often used to inform about or propose a tax with a relatively insignificant financial burden. While seemingly straightforward, it's important to avoid overstating the impact of "a small tax" and to clearly specify its intended purpose when discussing economic policies. Alternatives like "a minor levy" or "a nominal tax" may be used to emphasize insignificance or nominal value, respectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor levy

Replaces "tax" with a synonym and "small" with a synonym focusing on insignificance.

a nominal tax

Uses "nominal" to emphasize the tax is small in name only or in comparison to something else.

a negligible tax

Emphasizes the insignificance and near unnoticeable nature of the tax.

a modest tax

Replaces "small" with "modest", indicating a reasonable and not excessive tax.

a tiny tax

Uses a more informal term, "tiny", to describe the size of the tax.

a slight tax

Emphasizes the light burden of the tax.

a marginal tax

Indicates the tax is applied only to income above a certain threshold.

a symbolic tax

Suggests the tax's main purpose is to send a message rather than raise significant revenue.

a minimal tax

Highlights the very low or minimum amount of the tax.

a reduced tax

Focuses on the tax being lower than a standard or previous rate.

FAQs

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

You might say, "The city implemented "a small tax" on plastic bags to reduce waste."

What are some synonyms for "a small tax"?

Alternatives include "a minor levy", "a nominal tax", or "a modest tax", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "small tax" or "minor tax"?

Both are acceptable, but "small tax" is more common. "Minor tax" ("minor tax") emphasizes the insignificance of the tax more strongly.

What is a "Robin Hood tax", and is it the same as "a small tax"?

A "Robin Hood tax" is a specific type of "a small tax" on financial transactions, intended to redistribute wealth. While all Robin Hood taxes are small, not all small taxes are Robin Hood taxes.