a trivial gap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trivial gap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant difference or space between two things, often in a technical or analytical context. Example: "The study revealed a trivial gap in the data that did not affect the overall results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nearly 20 years ago, a large-scale study led by psychologist Janet Hyde of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, found a "trivial" gap in math test scores between boys and girls in elementary and middle school.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Note that the only loop forwarded to the second block in the flowchart (where it says "Solve the corresponding (un-capacitated) traffic assignment problem (TAP) for only one iteration") is repeated until the corresponding TAP converges to a trivial relative gap.

Journal of Modern Transportation

The first type, named as trivial gaps, is no more than 100 bp in length.

BMC Genomics

Meanwhile, another important government report, by the Social Security Trustees, showed only a trivial improvement in the gap between what Social Security owes the next generation of retirees and the tax receipts that it can expect.

Huffington Post

Buying an ETF costs a trivial commission of $10 or so, plus the gap between a marketmaker's bid and ask prices.

The Economist

4 The student understands the main concepts and problem-solving techniques, but has some minor yet non-trivial gaps in their reasoning.

University of California, Berkeley

Non-trivial gaps emerge in the half-filled jeff=3/2 bands in the monolayer and the half-filled jeff=1/2 bands in the bilayer system.

Nature

Once this is determined, closing gaps using sequenced PCR products is a trivial matter.

Plosone

(d) Hybridization gaps at the opposite valley K' lead to a trivial band inversion, depicted here for the top of the valence band for blue detuning.

Stanford University

A trivial matter?

The New York Times - Arts

A trivial pursuit?

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trivial gap" when you want to downplay the significance of a difference or space between two things. It's particularly useful in technical or analytical writing where precision is important, but minor variations should not be overemphasized.

Common error

Avoid using "a trivial gap" when the difference or space actually has significant consequences. Using it to describe something substantial can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trivial gap" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the size or significance of the "gap", indicating that it is small or unimportant. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a trivial gap" is used to describe a small, insignificant difference or space. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various writing styles. While the phrase appears across different domains, including news, science, and academia, its frequency is relatively uncommon. When using this phrase, ensure the difference you're describing genuinely lacks significance to avoid misleading your audience. Consider alternatives like "an insignificant difference" or "a minor discrepancy" to best fit your intended meaning and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an insignificant difference

Replaces "trivial gap" with more common synonyms to emphasize the lack of importance.

a minimal gap

Uses "minimal" as a direct synonym for "trivial", keeping the structure similar.

a negligible disparity

"Disparity" replaces "gap" for a slightly more formal tone, while "negligible" reinforces insignificance.

an inconsequential gap

"Inconsequential" highlights that the gap has no real importance or effect.

a minor discrepancy

"Discrepancy" is used instead of "gap" to suggest a slight inconsistency.

a small variation

Focuses on the idea of a slight difference in values or measurements.

a marginal difference

"Marginal" emphasizes that the difference is barely noticeable or impactful.

a superficial difference

"Superficial" implies that the difference is only on the surface and not substantial.

a slight divergence

"Divergence" suggests a minor deviation from an expected path or value.

a petty distinction

"Petty" emphasizes that the distinction is so small as to be almost meaningless.

FAQs

How can I use "a trivial gap" in a sentence?

You can use "a trivial gap" to describe a difference that is so small it's not really important. For example: "The study showed "a trivial gap" in test scores between the two groups".

What's a good alternative to "a trivial gap"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "an insignificant difference", "a negligible disparity", or "a minor discrepancy".

Is "a trivial gap" formal or informal?

"A trivial gap" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the overall tone of the writing rather than the setting.

In what situations is it best to use "a trivial gap"?

It's best to use "a trivial gap" when you want to emphasize that a difference or space is so small that it doesn't significantly affect the overall outcome or interpretation. For example, in scientific research or data analysis.