a small volume of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small volume of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a limited quantity of a substance or material, often in scientific or technical contexts. Example: "The experiment required a small volume of the reagent to achieve accurate results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Rosenthal passed around a small volume of Malina's poetry, "Having Loved," from which everyone read aloud.

The New Yorker

Why can pasta cook normally in a small volume of water that starts out cold?

The New York Times

"Right now, bioprinting is primarily used to create a small volume of tissue.

University of California, Berkeley

"It gives a better option for situations where a small volume of water is needed or space is limited.

The Guardian

Zhou, H. et al. Rapid and efficient generation of transgene-free iPSC from a small volume of cryopreserved blood.

Nature

Dearly missed, Inspector, dearly missed". She sobbed and clasped a small volume of Poe short stories to her breast.

The Guardian - Books

However, the most of the reported mechanical properties were gained from a small volume of material.

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

Residual stress measurements were performed through a small volume of irradiation.

Materials & Design

Experimental results suggest that ultrasonic vibration alone is efficient for degassing a small volume of melt.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

The developed biosensor showed good sensitivity, fast response and reproducibility with a small volume of sample.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And if you're wondering how a light can demonstrate the evolution of the universe, it works by each LED module representing a small volume of space.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small volume of" when precision isn't critical, but the intent is to indicate a quantity significantly less than the norm. For example, "a small volume of data" could suggest an initial dataset used for a pilot study.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "a small volume of" without providing context. Instead, consider quantifying the amount if possible or relating it to a reference point to give readers a better understanding of the scale involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small volume of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a limited quantity of something. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in various contexts, from scientific experiments to literary descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

24%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small volume of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a limited quantity of something. As Ludwig examples illustrate, it frequently appears in scientific and technical contexts, but also finds use in news, media, and academic writing. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for diverse writing scenarios. When aiming for precision, quantify when possible. Otherwise it is perfectly fine to use "a small volume of" when the purpose is just to indicate it is a lesser amount of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited quantity of

Emphasizes the restriction in the amount or number.

a modest amount of

Indicates a moderate or restrained quantity.

a minimal quantity of

Highlights that the amount is as small as possible.

a reduced amount of

Focuses on the decrease or lessening of the quantity.

a tiny amount of

Stresses the extremely small nature of the quantity.

a trace amount of

Implies an amount so small it is barely detectable.

a fraction of

Indicates that only a small part of something is present.

a smidgen of

Informal way to indicate a very small quantity.

a dash of

Typically used for liquids or powders, indicating a small addition.

a pinch of

Used for solids like salt, suggesting a very small quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small volume of" to describe a limited quantity of something. For example, "The experiment required "a small volume of" the reagent."

What are some alternatives to "a small volume of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a limited quantity of", "a modest amount of", or "a minimal quantity of".

When is it appropriate to use "a small volume of" in scientific writing?

It's appropriate when you need to indicate a quantity is significantly less than a typical or expected amount. While it provides less precision, the use of "a small volume of" maintains conciseness without sacrificing clarity. Be sure to provide context where possible.

Is "a small volume of" formal or informal?

"A small volume of" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's most common in scientific or technical writing.