a tiny discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tiny discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small difference or inconsistency in data, information, or measurements. Example: "After reviewing the reports, I noticed a tiny discrepancy in the figures that needs to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

When Randy Mastro and his colleagues scrutinized the film, they noticed a tiny discrepancy between the version that aired at Sundance and the one that was subsequently released on DVD.

The New Yorker

Given the scale (i.e. millions of devices), even a tiny discrepancy in price could result in hundreds of millions of dollars, going one way or the other.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And any dependence of h on location would translate as a tiny timing discrepancy between different GPS clocks.

BBC

But this tiny discrepancy in the sun's actual periodicity resulted in a gain of about three days every four centuries under the Julian calendar as compared with the observed equinoxes and solstices.

Huffington Post

Despite the tiny discrepancy in mass between the uranium atom and its products, the amount of energy released is big and the reason why is obvious when you look at the c² term in the equation – the speed of light is a huge number by itself and its square is therefore enormous.

The Guardian

In 2007 Spivey contracted with a New York hedge fund to devise a low-latency arbitrage strategy, wherein the fund would search out tiny discrepancies between futures contracts in Chicago and their underlying equities in New York.

Forbes

Mr. Aleynikov's arrest in 2009 drew attention to a business that had been little known outside Wall Street - high-frequency trading, which uses complex computer algorithms to make lightning-fast trades to exploit tiny discrepancies in price.

The New York Times

Nick Leeson, the trader who ran up £860m ($1.4 billion) of dealing losses at Barings, a British merchant bank, in 1995, was supposed to be making money in Singapore by exploiting tiny discrepancies between the prices of two futures contracts.

The Economist

A federal jury in Manhattan in December found the programmer, Sergey Aleynikov, guilty of stealing proprietary code that places trades using computer algorithms that spot tiny discrepancies in stock prices.

The New York Times

Scientists suspect that small inherited predispositions are either enhanced or suppressed by experience, and computer models show that tiny discrepancies at the start can become enormous over time, through feedback loopings of positive reinforcement.

The New York Times - Science

Even tiny discrepancies can void your policy.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a tiny discrepancy", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared and why the small difference matters. Even a "tiny discrepancy" can be significant depending on the scale or sensitivity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "a tiny discrepancy". Ensure your language reflects the actual degree of impact, which should be minor or easily correctable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tiny discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It identifies a small inconsistency or difference, modifying the noun "discrepancy" with the adjective "tiny".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tiny discrepancy" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, used to describe a small difference or inconsistency. Ludwig AI confirms that it's appropriate in many contexts, particularly within news and media. While it's not the most frequent phrase, it's useful for conveying that a difference exists but is of minor significance. Remember to ensure that the impact is not overstated and that the context clearly defines the elements being compared. When writing, you can use alternatives like "a slight difference" or "a minor inconsistency" to achieve a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight difference

Emphasizes the small magnitude of the difference.

a minor inconsistency

Highlights the lack of agreement or coherence, focusing on its unimportance.

a negligible variation

Stresses the insignificance of the change or deviation.

a minimal divergence

Suggests a slight departure from a standard or expected course.

a trivial disparity

Underscores the lack of importance of the inequality or difference.

a small deviation

Focuses on the act of straying or diverging from a set path or norm.

a marginal difference

Highlights that the difference is at the edge or margin.

a faint distinction

Suggests that the difference is difficult to perceive or detect.

an almost imperceptible difference

Emphasizes that the difference is very hard to notice.

an insignificant mismatch

Focuses on the lack of importance of the failure to correspond or harmonize.

FAQs

How can I use "a tiny discrepancy" in a sentence?

You can use "a tiny discrepancy" to describe a small difference or inconsistency. For example: "The accountant found "a tiny discrepancy" in the financial records."

What are some alternatives to "a tiny discrepancy"?

Alternatives include "a slight difference", "a minor inconsistency", or "a negligible variation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a tiny discrepancy" instead of "a large discrepancy"?

"A tiny discrepancy" is appropriate when the difference is small and relatively unimportant. Use "a large discrepancy" when the difference is substantial and potentially significant.

Is "a tiny discrepancy" always a negative thing?

Not necessarily. While discrepancies often imply errors or inconsistencies, "a tiny discrepancy" might also be a harmless or even expected variation, depending on the situation. Consider the context carefully before assuming a negative connotation.