about this little

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about this little" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a small amount or a minor detail, but it lacks clarity and context for proper usage. Example: "I have some concerns about this little issue we need to address."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

We were told about this little restaurant.

The New York Times

"Bastards," Reacher says about this little outrage.

The New York Times - Books

"I worry about this little one," the woman said.

The New Yorker

I was amazed, reading about this little girl.

The New York Times

It's about this little kid who is crazy rich.

The Guardian

I'm not sure what I think about this little invention.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

I wanted to learn more about this little-known part of the Mesozoic Era".

The New York Times - Arts

He was only on the island for a few hours, but he keeps thinking about this little-known place where everybody was having such a time of it.

The New Yorker

Experts in the field said doctors need to be better informed about this little-known threat to their H.I.V.-positive patients.

The New York Times - Health

The Calgary Flames are unexpectedly winning games and the team's first-round draft pick is adding to the buzz about this little-team-that-could.

The Guardian - Sport

Journey to Oudtshoorn, a dusty South African town 270 miles east of Cape Town, and learn about this little-known episode.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to something small or minor, consider using more precise adjectives like "minor", "small", or "trivial" instead of "little" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "little" as a catch-all adjective. Overusing vague descriptors can weaken your writing. Replace "little" with words that specify size, importance, or emotional tone, depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about this little" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a topic or subject, often referring to something considered small or insignificant. Although Ludwig provides examples of its use, it's often seen as vague and can be improved with more specific wording.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about this little" is frequently used, particularly in news and media, to introduce a topic of seemingly minor importance. While common, it lacks precision and is considered grammatically questionable. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "about this little" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English. For clarity and impact, replacing "little" with more descriptive adjectives like "minor", "small", or "trivial" is recommended. This enhances both the grammatical correctness and the professional tone of your writing. Alternatives such as "regarding this minor detail" or "concerning this small matter" provide greater specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about this tiny issue

Uses "tiny issue" as a more descriptive substitute for "little".

concerning this slight concern

Replaces "little" with "slight" to indicate a mild worry.

regarding this minor detail

Replaces the vagueness of "little" with "minor detail", specifying the scale of the subject.

concerning this small matter

Uses "small matter" to clarify the size of the issue being discussed.

regarding this petite problem

Employs "petite problem" to soften the issue while retaining the small scale.

regarding this minute detail

Specifies the size of the subject with "minute detail".

about this trivial thing

Emphasizes the unimportance of the subject with "trivial thing".

regarding this insignificant item

Highlights the lack of significance using "insignificant item".

concerning this negligible point

Replaces "little" with "negligible point" to stress the minimal impact.

about this marginal aspect

Uses "marginal aspect" to refer to something on the periphery or less important.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound way to say "about this little"?

Consider using alternatives like "concerning this small matter", "regarding this minor detail", or "about this "tiny issue"" for increased clarity.

In what contexts is "about this little" most frequently used?

Based on the provided examples, "about this little" appears often in news and media when referencing minor incidents, small business details, or personal anecdotes.

Is "about this little" considered formal or informal language?

While widely used, "about this little" leans toward informal language. For professional or academic contexts, more precise terms are advisable.

What are common mistakes to avoid when using phrases like "about this little"?

A common mistake is vagueness. Replacing "little" with more specific terms enhances clarity. For example, instead of "about this little issue", consider "about this "minor issue"" or "about this "trivial matter"".