allocate a small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allocate a small" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the distribution of a limited amount of resources, time, or effort in various contexts, such as budgeting or project management. Example: "We need to allocate a small portion of our budget for marketing efforts this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Earmarks are used to allocate a small fraction of already approved spending amounts.

The New York Times

These investors, who typically allocate a small percentage of their portfolios to venture capital, are familiar with risk, but it is long-term risk, stretching out 7 to 10 years.

The New York Times

The reform also angered the PD's left wing by letting parents allocate a small share of their taxes to their children's schools, and benefit from tax breaks on donations to them.

The Economist

For those investors who want to hold equities that may be exposing them to risk, they should allocate a small portion of their funds to a hedge.

Forbes

Some pension funds, endowments and foundations will always allocate a small portion of their cash to venture in hopes of lucking into a Google or a YouTube.

Forbes

The Bush Administration will probably propose, as it has in the past, allowing workers to allocate a small portion of their Social Security tax to their own personal savings accounts.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The lower prices make them "less intimidating for smaller investors," who can allocate a smaller portion of their portfolios to preferreds than they could to individual holdings of corporate debt, said Thomas W. Lee, a director in the investment strategies division of Merrill Lynch's private client group.

The New York Times

However, depending on the variabilities of the responses, most of these designs may allocate a smaller number of patients to the better treatment.

Statistics & Probability Letters

The index seeks to double the return, on the upside and the downside, of the Russell 2000 index, which allows investors to allocate a smaller portion of their portfolio to represent the underlying index.

Forbes

In order to reduce the chance undergoing severe amount of MAI and exploiting the frequency selectivity of the fading channels, subchannel-based frame structure is proposed which allocate a smaller number of subcarriers to each ranging opportunity so that most of the RSSs are expected to transmit on disjoint sets of subcarriers with alleviated interference to each other [11 15].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

As proposed by Darwin, climbers have been assumed to allocate a smaller fraction of biomass to support organs in comparison with self-supporting plants.

Annals of Botany

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "allocate a small", be specific about what resource you are distributing and the purpose for which it is being allocated. This clarity enhances the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "allocate a small" when the allocation is truly insignificant to the point of being inconsequential. Instead, consider if a different action or phrasing might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allocate a small" functions as a verb phrase, where 'allocate' is the verb indicating distribution, and 'a small' acts as a determiner phrase specifying the quantity. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allocate a small" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of distributing something in a limited quantity. Ludwig highlights that this phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts, from scientific research to news reports. While not exceedingly common, it's readily understood and accepted. For more nuanced expression, consider alternatives like "dedicate a small portion" or "assign a minimal amount". When using this phrase, clarity about the allocated resource and its purpose is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicate a small portion

Focuses on committing a part to a specific purpose; changes the verb.

assign a minimal amount

Replaces "allocate" with "assign" and "small" with "minimal", emphasizing the limited quantity.

allot a slight share

Substitutes "allocate" with "allot" and "small" with "slight", maintaining a similar meaning.

designate a modest quantity

Uses "designate" instead of "allocate" and "modest quantity" to convey the limited amount.

earmark a fraction

Emphasizes setting aside a very small part, using a more specific verb.

apportion a reduced amount

Replaces "small" with "reduced" to indicate a decreased quantity being distributed.

devote a tiny sum

Highlights the use of a very small amount specifically in the context of resources.

set aside a limited quantity

Focuses on reserving a certain quantity, using more common language.

commit a negligible portion

Stresses the insignificance of the portion being allocated.

grant a reduced share

Implies giving a smaller portion, focusing on the act of providing.

FAQs

How can I use "allocate a small" in a sentence?

You can use "allocate a small" to describe distributing a limited amount of resources. For example, "We need to allocate a small portion of the budget to marketing."

What are some alternatives to "allocate a small"?

Alternatives include phrases like "dedicate a small portion", "assign a minimal amount", or "allot a slight share".

Is it better to say "allocate a small amount" or "allocate a small portion"?

Both "allocate a small amount" and "allocate a small portion" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific context and what you are allocating.

What's the difference between "allocate a small" and "allocate a significant"?

"Allocate a small" implies a limited distribution, whereas "allocate a significant" suggests a more substantial distribution of resources.