a supposedly small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a supposedly small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is claimed or believed to be small, but there may be doubt about that claim. Example: "The project was described as a supposedly small undertaking, but it turned out to be much more complex than anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"There used to be a supposedly small part of the operations of government which was lawless — it was unconstitutional and that was seen as acceptable because it was spy vs. spy, targeted at an agent of a foreign power," O'Brien said.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In addition, a supposedly minor effect may be small sensitivity variations of the pixels of the Lambda detector (Schavkan et al., 2013 ▶), which could be compensated by a flatfield correction.

Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and Advances

Such an approach allows us to account also for those a few supposedly small terms which may be critical for finding the correct buckling load of shells sensitive to imperfections.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Instead, we're seeing a number of supposedly small government members of Congress stand behind action that gives the Federal government chronic authority to end the right to privacy.

TechCrunch

Why split the anti-Tory vote between them when, they suggest, the differences between many Labour, Lib Dem and Green candidates "are far smaller than the differences between figures who are at home in the Conservative party?" That would be easier to swallow, perhaps, if Labour weren't currently tearing itself in two over some of these supposedly small differences.

The Guardian - Books

Regional dialects do have some internal variation, but the differences within a regional dialect are supposedly smaller than differences between two regional dialects of the same rank.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The costs associated with thousands of trials, administrative proceedings, and the massive bureaucracy that would have to be developed would add an entirely new layer in the government - a fact that is conveniently ignored by the supposedly small-government conservative candidates leading the charge.

Huffington Post

In other parts of the country, supposedly "small-government" Republicans are mandating government interference with a woman's personal and complex childbearing decisions.

The New York Times

In the South Group that theme is even more pronounced with Surrey, Middlesex and Glamorgan all having been outdone by supposedly smaller counties.

The Guardian - Sport

Even before kick‑off the Saracens chairman, Nigel Wray, could be heard repeating that the salary‑cap disparity "has to be sorted", although he might have picked a better day to dust down his call for more English teams in the Heineken Cup at the expense of the supposedly smaller fry from Italy, Scotland and Ireland.

The Guardian - Sport

P. b. paraguensis is supposedly smaller and more gregarious, with different dentition and skull morphology.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a supposedly small" when you want to express that something is believed to be small, but there's a degree of skepticism or doubt about its actual size or importance. It's particularly useful when this supposed smallness is relevant to the context or argument you're making.

Common error

Don't automatically assume that describing something as "a supposedly small" entity diminishes its impact. The phrase often sets up a contrast, suggesting the item might be more significant than initially perceived. Use it to create intrigue or highlight hidden importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a supposedly small" functions as a qualifier, specifically an adjective phrase, modifying a noun. It indicates that the smallness of something is an assumption or claim, rather than an established fact. Ludwig AI examples show this use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a supposedly small" is a grammatically sound phrase used to qualify nouns and introduce a note of skepticism about their perceived smallness. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Science, demonstrating its wide applicability. When writing, remember that using this term suggests the actual size or significance might be different from what is claimed, adding depth to your descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an allegedly minor

Replaces "supposedly" with "allegedly", emphasizing that the small size is based on an allegation or claim that may not be true.

a purportedly insignificant

Substitutes "supposedly small" with "purportedly insignificant", highlighting the claimed lack of importance rather than just size.

a presumptively modest

Replaces "supposedly" with "presumptively", indicating that the small size is assumed or presumed, possibly without full evidence.

a seemingly negligible

Emphasizes that something appears small or unimportant at first glance, using "negligible" for impact.

a deceptively diminutive

Highlights that the small size can be misleading or deceptive about its true nature or impact.

a reputedly trivial

Uses "reputedly" to indicate that the small size is part of its reputation or common perception.

a claimed minimal

Focuses on the claim of minimal size or impact, using "claimed" to emphasize the assertion.

an ostensibly petite

Uses "ostensibly" to show that something is presented as small, even if it isn't in reality.

a professed limited

Emphasizes that the small nature is professed or declared, possibly to downplay significance.

a surface-level minute

Highlights that the smallness is only apparent at the surface level, possibly masking underlying complexity or importance.

FAQs

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

Use "a supposedly small" to introduce an element believed to be minor, but which might turn out to be more significant. For example, "The issue started as "a supposedly small" oversight, but it escalated into a major problem".

What is the difference between "a supposedly small" and "a truly small"?

"A supposedly small" suggests there is a claim or expectation of smallness that might be questioned, while "a truly small" indicates genuine smallness that is factual and undisputed. In other words, "supposedly" implies possible deception or misjudgment.

What can I say instead of "a supposedly small"?

You can use alternatives like "an allegedly minor", "a seemingly negligible", or "a purportedly insignificant" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "a supposedly small" in formal writing?

Yes, "a supposedly small" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing. However, ensure that the tone and context align with the level of formality required. It is acceptable to use in neutral writing contexts.