a tiny quantity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tiny quantity of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small amount of something, often in contexts related to measurements, cooking, or scientific descriptions. Example: "To enhance the flavor of the dish, add a tiny quantity of salt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Think what a tiny quantity of sound energy is released by a needle striking a floor!

The New York Times

Almost nothing was growing in Abdulgan, and only a tiny quantity of goods made it through the Taliban blockades.

The New York Times - Magazine

That involves shaving the marmoset's head, drilling tiny holes into its skull, inserting a needle and injecting a tiny quantity of toxin.

The Guardian

Among several groups developing such tissue culture approaches, a local company, ESCAgenetics Corporation of San Carlos, recently reported successfully producing a tiny quantity of taxol through a proprietary plant tissue culture technology.

Stanford University

Laws on drug abuse are draconian: last year a student from Reading, Ahmad Zeidan, was sentenced to nine years in jail for possession of a tiny quantity of cocaine.

Independent

A far simpler kind of chip called a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, which sends a tiny quantity of data over a short range when activated, can already be manufactured for 4 cents apiece.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

His discovery of LSD's awesome powers came on April 19 1943, a Monday, when he deliberately ingested at his Sandoz laboratory in Basle a tiny quantity, 0.25mg, of a substance he called, in German, Lyserg-säure-diäthylamid (lysergic acid).

The Guardian

His discovery of LSD's awesome powers came on Monday April 19 1943 at his Sandoz laboratory in Basle, when he deliberately ingested a tiny quantity, 0.25mg, of a substance he called in German Lyserg-saure-diathylamid (lysergic acid in English).

The Guardian

Phelps beat him by only four hundredths of a second a tiny quantity of time, less than half the duration of a single blink of the eye.

The New Yorker

A tiny quantity gives the curry an earthy, mushroom undertone.

WikiHow

The tiny quantity of Gadolinium does not affect the production of Cherenkov radiation, so just looking at this we would be in the same situation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing precise measurements in scientific or technical writing, consider using more specific units (e.g., milligrams, microliters) instead of "a tiny quantity of" for clarity.

Common error

While "a tiny quantity of" is acceptable in most writing, avoid using it excessively in informal conversations. Simpler terms like "a little" or "just a bit" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tiny quantity of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a noun. Ludwig shows it's used to express a minimal or insignificant amount of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a tiny quantity of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating a very small amount. Ludwig confirms its usage across various domains, particularly in news, media, and academic writing. Although versatile, it's essential to consider the context when choosing between this phrase and more precise measurements or simpler alternatives. As Ludwig AI reports, the phrase is correct and effective for emphasizing minimal amounts across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small amount of

Replaces "tiny" with "small", a more general term for size.

a minute amount of

Replaces "tiny" with "minute", indicating extreme smallness.

a trace amount of

Emphasizes that the quantity is so small it's barely detectable.

a negligible amount of

Highlights that the quantity is so small it's insignificant.

a hint of

Suggests the quantity is so small it's barely perceptible, particularly in sensory contexts.

a fraction of

Suggests that the quantity is a small part of a whole.

a dash of

Commonly used in cooking to refer to a very small amount of an ingredient.

a drop of

Specifically refers to a liquid in a very small quantity.

a speck of

Implies an extremely small, almost invisible amount.

a modicum of

Indicates a small or moderate amount, often used in more formal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "a tiny quantity of" in a sentence?

You can use "a tiny quantity of" to describe a very small amount of something. For example, "Add "a tiny quantity of" the solution to the mixture".

What are some alternatives to "a tiny quantity of"?

Some alternatives include "a small amount of", "a trace amount of", or "a minute amount of", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a tiny quantity of" or "a small amount of"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a tiny quantity of" emphasizes the extreme smallness of the amount, while "a small amount of" is more general. Choose the phrase that best fits the desired emphasis.

When is it not appropriate to use "a tiny quantity of"?

In highly formal or technical contexts, using specific units of measurement (e.g., milligrams, microliters) is generally preferred over "a tiny quantity of" for greater precision.