amount too small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amount too small" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about an amount or quantity of something that is not enough. For example: The amount of money that she was paid for her work was too small.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Other mortgage securities investors have objected to it, calling the amount too small.

The New York Times

Mr. Pyun contended the grant was for $3,000, an amount too small to account for in a parade that cost nearly $57,000 last year.

The New York Times

The commission found that Samsung had undersold the market by less than 1percentt, an amount too small to justify a penalty.

The New York Times

"Metals are ubiquitous," said Linda Loretz, chief toxicologist for the Personal Care Products Council, an industry association. "And this is a very small amount, too small to be a safety issue".

The New York Times

If pieces varying from the standard were found, that was also noted; the 1885 Assay Commission reported the one substandard silver coin, which came from the Carson City Mint, but urged the president to take no action, noting that the coin was underweight by an amount too small to be measured by the scales at Carson City.

Wikipedia

Thus, inbreeding would increase by an amount too small to measure, the fact that we did not observe a decrease in HE is not unexpected.

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Scientists say the virus may have been present in amounts too small to be detected.

The New York Times

The early studies of plutonium were carried out on a tracer scale with amounts too small to be weighed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

CONSUMERS seeking to refinance small loan amounts, usually $60,000 or less, may be out of luck: many lenders say they consider such amounts too small to refinance.

The New York Times

Most investors do not give much thought to these quarterly dollops of cash, which seem to dribble in haphazardly in amounts too small to notice, especially when automatically added to a brokerage statement.

The New York Times

Sot Barnslig confessed that he was stealing tiny amounts from thousands of different accounts and credit cards, amounts too small to be noticed by their owners, and Karl was unwittingly assisting him.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "amount too small", ensure it's followed by an explanation of why the amount is insufficient, such as "to cover costs" or "to be effective".

Common error

Avoid using "amount too small" when the insignificance is already implied. For example, instead of saying "the trace amount was too small to detect, but it was dangerous", simply state "the trace amount was undetectable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amount too small" functions primarily as a modifier, typically describing a noun (e.g., settlement, contribution, dose). It indicates that the specified quantity is insufficient for a given purpose or falls short of a required threshold. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "amount too small" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to denote inadequacy or insufficiency. As affirmed by Ludwig, it is considered correct in written English. It frequently appears in news articles, scientific publications, and formal business contexts, signifying that a specific quantity is insufficient for its intended purpose. While generally neutral, the phrase can carry a negative connotation when used to express criticism or disappointment. Alternatives such as "insufficient quantity" or "inadequate sum" can be used depending on context. Be mindful to follow up with a reason as to why the amount is insufficient.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insufficient quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity" and uses "insufficient" to convey inadequacy.

inadequate sum

Substitutes "amount" with "sum" and "too small" with "inadequate", emphasizing the lack of an acceptable total.

negligible quantity

Replaces the entire phrase with a description emphasizing that the amount has no impact.

paltry sum

Replaces "amount" with "sum" and "too small" with "paltry", implying the amount is insignificant or worthless.

meager quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity" and "too small" with "meager", suggesting the quantity is deficient.

trifling amount

Replaces "too small" with "trifling", indicating the amount is of little consequence.

minimal quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity" and "too small" with "minimal", showing the quantity is at the lowest limit.

inappreciable amount

Replaces "too small" with "inappreciable", conveying the amount is not worth consideration.

tiny quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity" and "too small" with "tiny", showing the quantity is very little.

insignificant sum

Substitutes "amount" with "sum" and "too small" with "insignificant", stressing the unimportance of the amount.

FAQs

How can I use "amount too small" in a sentence?

You can use "amount too small" to describe something that is insufficient or inadequate. For example, "The settlement amount was "amount too small" to compensate the victims properly".

What's the difference between "amount too small" and "quantity too small"?

Both phrases are very similar. "Amount" is generally used with uncountable nouns (e.g., money, water), while "quantity" is used with countable nouns (e.g., items, people). However, in many contexts, they are interchangeable, but if you refer to items in bulk quantity is more appropriate.

What can I say instead of "amount too small"?

You can use alternatives like "insufficient quantity", "inadequate sum", or "negligible quantity", depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to say "amount is too big" instead of "amount too small"?

Yes, the opposite phrase "amount too big" is perfectly valid. It describes a situation where something is excessive or larger than needed. It depends on the context of what you are trying to express.