a tiny favor

USAGE SUMMARY

"a tiny favor" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone for help with something minor. For example, "Can you do me a tiny favor and mail this letter for me?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I have a tiny favor to ask everyone!

Huffington Post

Ask them for a tiny favor, something that takes less than a minute of their time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A host could greet you by name, usher you to a favored table or dispense some tiny favor or bit of decency and you could imagine yourself part of an intimate club, a player in the grand show of Manhattan night life.

The New York Times - Food

If someone -- a client, a vendor, anyone but your mom -- says something positive about your work, ask them for this tiny favor: "If it's not too much trouble, I would love it if you could jot me a quick note to keep in my annual review file!" Then you can walk around the office saying how nice it was that Mr. Client/Vendor/Anyone-but-your-Mom took the time to write this swell note to you.

Huffington Post

Sooner or later, Americans' real wages (accounting for inflation) will start to grow meaningfully along with if not anywhere as fast as Wall Street profits and their debt loads will come down, or else growth will continue to favor a tiny investor class.

Vice

It was a tiny film world where favors and friendships often stood in for the money no one had.

The New York Times

For many decades, Puerto Ricans have been split three ways: roughly half advocates an improved version of the current "commonwealth" status; roughly half supports the island's admission into the Union as the fifty-first state; and a tiny but vocal minority favors independence.

Yale University

I'm personally now favoring a tiny alteration to a very familiar phrase in US politics; ahead of us we now have Four Mere Years.

Huffington Post

Systemic greed favors a tiny class of people who concentrate more and more capital, as well as more and more control over our lives.

Huffington Post

Most opinion polls show that only a tiny minority of Taiwan residents favor reunification with the mainland.

The New York Times

Many of the old crony capitalists have been sidelined (and a few are in jail) but the basic rules of the game remain skewed in favor of a tiny elite — chief among which is the Egyptian military.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking for "a tiny favor", be specific and concise about what you need. This makes it easier for the person to help you quickly and efficiently.

Common error

Avoid using "a tiny favor" when the request is actually quite involved or time-consuming. This can create a mismatch between expectations and the actual effort required, potentially frustrating the person you're asking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tiny favor" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb or preposition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a valid and common way to introduce a request, softening the demand and implying minimal imposition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tiny favor" is a grammatically correct phrase used to politely request a small act of assistance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While its frequency is relatively rare, it is common in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the request genuinely aligns with the implication of minimal effort to avoid miscommunication. Consider more formal alternatives like "a small request" in professional environments. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "a tiny favor" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A small request

Replaces "tiny favor" with more generic synonyms, keeping the request aspect.

A little help

Focuses on the assistance aspect, simplifying the phrase.

A minor service

Uses a more formal term for "favor", implying a simple action.

A slight assistance

Combines adjectives to describe help required with similar scope

A brief courtesy

Emphasizes the politeness of the request, using a different noun.

A quick task

Highlights the simplicity and speed of the required action.

A simple matter

Indicates that the request should not cause significant difficulty.

A modest boon

Replaces "favor" with boon and reduces the scope with the word modest.

A trivial deed

Uses the term "deed" to characterize the action and minimizes it.

A nominal service

Denotes the service is so small is likely to be disregarded.

FAQs

How can I politely ask for "a tiny favor"?

You can soften the request by saying, "Could you do me "a tiny favor"?" or "I was hoping you could help me with "a tiny favor"".

Is it appropriate to ask for "a tiny favor" in a formal setting?

While generally acceptable, consider your audience. In highly formal settings, "a small request" or "a brief assistance" might be more suitable than ""a tiny favor"".

What's the difference between "a small favor" and "a tiny favor"?

"A tiny favor" implies an even smaller, quicker, or less significant request than "a small favor". The choice depends on the precise nature of your request.

When should I avoid using the phrase "a tiny favor"?

Avoid using ""a tiny favor"" if the task is actually complex, time-consuming, or requires special skills. This mismatch can undermine your credibility and strain relationships.