a very small tip

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very small tip" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a minor piece of advice or a small gratuity given for service. Example: "After the meal, I left a very small tip because the service was not satisfactory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But I noticed he left a very small tip.

The New York Times

The use of more refined instruments such as the atomic force microscope (AFM) or microindenters (such as the cellular force microscope; Routier-Kwierzkowska et al., 2012) provides the ability to control a very small tip (radius typically <1 μm) and push it into a particular cell (see Fig.  4C).

Annals of Botany

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A mathematical model of the electrostatic force gradient has been established [9], but it conforms well to the experimental results only for a very small tip-sample distance.

Nanoscale Research Letters

If the waiter was horrible, it is most effective to leave a very very small tip rather than none at all.

WikiHow

Today, anyone who writes about the CIA leak case, or about Katrina, is extrapolating from the very small tip of a very large iceberg.

Huffington Post

In the vertical direction, we detected standing pressure waves caused by reflection at the plane apex of the very small tip, which caused frequency changes below 1 Hz.

Electrochimica Acta

emitters [2] such as (i) high chemical stability (resistance to oxidation or other chemical species) and high mechanical strength (Young's modulus ∼1 TPa), (ii) high melting point (∼3,550 °C) and reasonable conductivity (resistivity ∼10−7 Ωm), (iii) high aspect ratio (>1,000) with very small tip radius to greatly enhance the local electric field, and (iv) easy and low cost production [3].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Rather than using a beam of light or particles, a very small sharpened tip scans the surface by making physical contact with the bilayer and moving across it, like a record player needle.

Wikipedia

Stick butts have a very small flare tip, so you can support the entire stick with the edge of one finger while the whole of the shaft isn't really on top of your finger.

WikiHow

With scissors, cut off a very small piece of the tip of the cone.

WikiHow

In Figure 3b, a very small portion of the AFM tip presents a lattice darker than the rest of the Si tip.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing service in the hospitality industry, use "a very small tip" to clearly indicate dissatisfaction without being overly negative. For example: "The waiter's inattentiveness led me to leave only "a very small tip".

Common error

Avoid using hyperbolic language to describe a small tip. Saying "I left almost nothing" instead of "a very small tip" can come across as overly aggressive and may not accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very small tip" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition in a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it's usable in written English and denotes a minimal gratuity, as seen in one of the Ludwig examples where it's contrasted with a $20 bill.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a very small tip" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a minimal gratuity, often indicating dissatisfaction with service. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and wiki articles. While it's generally acceptable, it's important to be mindful of the tone and consider alternative ways to express dissatisfaction, such as speaking to a manager. Other phrases like "a meager gratuity" or "a minimal tip" may be more polite in certain situations. When using "a very small tip", clarity and context are key to ensure the message is received as intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny tip

Emphasizes the reduced size of the tip.

a minimal tip

Highlights that the tip is at the lowest acceptable level.

a slight tip

Indicates a small and barely noticeable tip.

a minuscule tip

Stresses the extremely small size of the tip, almost to the point of being negligible.

a meager gratuity

Emphasizes the insufficiency or smallness of the tip in terms of monetary value.

a paltry tip

Suggests the tip is contemptibly small and inadequate.

a trifling tip

Highlights the insignificance of the tip, suggesting it's of little consequence.

a fractional tip

Emphasizes that the tip represents only a small fraction of the total bill.

a nominal tip

Indicates that the tip is just a token amount, barely meeting expectations.

an insignificant tip

Focuses on the lack of importance or impact of the tip.

FAQs

How can I use "a very small tip" in a sentence?

You can use "a very small tip" to describe a gratuity left for service that was not satisfactory. For example: "Due to the poor service, I decided to leave "a very small tip"".

What's a more polite way to say "a very small tip"?

Consider using phrases like "a minimal gratuity" or "a token of appreciation" to soften the tone while still conveying that the tip was small. Remember that "a very small tip" can sometimes be interpreted as an insult.

When is it appropriate to leave "a very small tip"?

Leaving "a very small tip" is typically appropriate when the service received was significantly below standard, but not so terrible as to warrant no tip at all. It signals dissatisfaction without completely disregarding the server's effort.

What are some alternatives to giving "a very small tip"?

Instead of leaving "a very small tip", you could speak to the manager about the poor service or, if appropriate, file a formal complaint. This provides direct feedback and may lead to improvements.