a tiny problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tiny problem" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor issue or inconvenience that is not significant. Example: "We encountered a tiny problem with the software update, but it was quickly resolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Books

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But, pragmatically, it is simply not worth it.To begin with, it is tackling a tiny problem.

The Economist

'Benefit tourism', if it exists at all, is a tiny problem".

The Guardian

A tiny problem, relatively speaking, is causing Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal a lot of pain these days.

The New York Times - Sports

There was a tiny problem in the manufacturing process so it was very difficult to find out".

The Guardian - Tech

There's a tiny problem, though – we'd have to convince the manufacturers that it's a good idea, as well.

The Guardian

The only problem with these later writings, a tiny problem, is that, in his octogenarian crankiness, Kazin sometimes loses his place or forgets that he is repeating himself.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But, just in case you're like me and you have a teeny tiny problem with boundaries, I am just dying to tell you the lessons I've learned over the last few months of working on this.

Huffington Post

I think it's a very tiny, tiny problem that is blown out of proportion because there are a lot of people who want to accuse Apple of a mistake only because Apple has been so good with its products, creating the products that we all love".

TechCrunch

I actually received the new iMac a few weeks ago (with no FDA problems — apparently FedEx is more on top of things), but it had one tiny problem: A crack in the massive 27″ screen.

TechCrunch

That has not stopped him being hobbled by a French-led coalition determined to limit concessions offered on farm subsidies in the Doha round of world trade talks (which are stalled partly as a result).There is also the tiny problem that, on economic matters, the EU does not agree what unity might be for.

The Economist

It's really a tiny technological problem".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tiny problem" to downplay the severity of an issue, especially when presenting solutions or mitigating circumstances alongside it.

Common error

Avoid using "a tiny problem" when the issue at hand has significant consequences or impacts, as it may undermine your credibility or create a false sense of security. Instead, use phrases that accurately reflect the true magnitude of the problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tiny problem" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its standard grammatical usage, conveying a sense of something being a minor issue.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Books

7%

Tech

7%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tiny problem" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a minor issue. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, showing its frequent use in news and media to downplay concerns or introduce manageable issues. Related phrases include "a minor issue" and "a small concern", offering similar meanings. While versatile, it's important to avoid using it when addressing significant issues, and instead use it when the issue is really negligible to not sound condescending. The phrase serves to reassure and contextualize, presenting problems as easily resolvable and minimizing their perceived impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor issue

Replaces "tiny" with "minor", emphasizing the small scale of the problem.

a small concern

Substitutes "problem" with "concern", suggesting a less serious issue.

a slight difficulty

Uses "difficulty" instead of "problem", indicating a challenge that is not severe.

an insignificant matter

Replaces "problem" with "matter", framing the issue as unimportant.

a trivial complication

Uses stronger vocabulary to indicate a minor issue in "complication" and "trivial".

a negligible hiccup

Replaces "problem" with "hiccup", emphasizing a temporary and easily resolved issue with "negligible".

a petty nuisance

Frames the problem as annoying but ultimately unimportant using "petty" and "nuisance".

a trifling matter

Replaces "problem" with "matter", and "tiny" with "trifling" to convey insignificance.

a minor setback

Positions the issue as a temporary obstacle, rather than a full-blown problem.

a small snag

Informal term to indicate a small, unexpected difficulty or problem.

FAQs

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

You can use "a tiny problem" to describe a minor issue that is not significant. For example: "We encountered "a tiny problem" with the system, but it was quickly resolved."

What can I say instead of "a tiny problem"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor issue", "a small concern", or "a slight difficulty" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a tiny problem" or "a small problem"?

Both ""a tiny problem"" and "a small problem" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. The choice depends on the desired emphasis, with "tiny" suggesting an even lesser degree of significance than "small".

What is the difference between "a tiny problem" and "a major problem"?

"A tiny problem" indicates a minor issue with minimal impact, while "a major problem" refers to a significant issue with serious consequences. The choice depends on the actual scale and impact of the issue being discussed.