as trifling as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as trifling as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare something that is considered insignificant or unimportant to another thing. Example: "The issue was as trifling as a misplaced paperclip, hardly worth the fuss it generated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Despite all the changes, the new librettos remained as trifling as those of operetta and as loosely bound as a revue's.

The New Yorker

Those potent, consequential feelings are ill served by an event as "politic, cautious, and meticulous" — and as trifling — as "The American Effect".

The New Yorker

Judith Shulevitz ("The Thrill") when she says that she realizes now how lucky we are to have obsessed over matters as trifling as Britney Spears before the attacks.

The New York Times - Magazine

The stresses can be as trifling as having to worry when getting up at night to use the toilet, which Mr. Wilson said he fretted about all the time because the elder Maggis' bedroom is next to the bathroom.

The New York Times

Equally hard to reconcile, in light of the stiff rebukes handed out by the board when public servants accept gratuities as trifling as free popcorn, was the five-page ruling issued in February allowing the police officer to have his wedding financed by Macy's.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Paine saw any rough edges resulting from the revolution as trifling by comparison to the injustices of the preceding regime.

The Guardian - Books

The advances that were made may appear today as trifling, but that is because they were so fundamental.

Britannica

The publishers dismiss this as trifling: they claim that it would take more than three times that sum to stimulate any serious competition to the BBC.

The Economist

In Germany on Wednesday, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection held a news conference that described the threat from the Japanese plume as trifling and said there was no need for people to take iodine tablets.

The New York Times - Science

Their mutual praise is as affecting as the way they would shyly enclose some stray poem like "The Armadillo" or "Skunk Hour," described as trifling and now an indispensable citizen of our anthologies.

The New York Times - Books

How Button would kill for something as trifling right now.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as trifling as" to draw a comparison that emphasizes the insignificance or lack of importance of something relative to something else. This can be effective in downplaying an issue or highlighting its lack of consequence.

Common error

While appropriate in many contexts, overuse of "as trifling as" in highly formal or academic writing can sound dismissive. Consider more neutral or objective language if the goal is not to minimize but to analyze without bias.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as trifling as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something by comparing its insignificance or lack of importance to another thing, emphasizing how minor or inconsequential it is. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is grammatically correct and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as trifling as" is a grammatically sound and comparatively rare expression used to emphasize the insignificance of something by comparing it to something else. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is considered correct and acceptable. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it can also appear in academic and encyclopedic writing. When considering alternatives, "as insignificant as" or "as trivial as" offer similar meanings. Be mindful of the potential for a dismissive tone, especially in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as insignificant as

Replaces "trifling" with a synonym emphasizing lack of importance.

as trivial as

Similar to "as insignificant as", highlights the lack of seriousness or importance.

as unimportant as

Directly states the lack of importance.

as minor as

Suggests a small degree or scale of something.

as inconsequential as

Emphasizes the lack of consequence or impact.

as petty as

Highlights the small-mindedness or triviality of something.

as negligible as

Implies something is so small it can be disregarded.

comparable to

Focuses on the comparison rather than the degree of insignificance.

on par with

Indicates equality in terms of triviality.

akin to

Suggests a similarity in nature or quality, implying triviality.

FAQs

How can I use "as trifling as" in a sentence?

You can use "as trifling as" to compare the unimportance of something to another thing. For example, "The delay was "as trifling as" a few seconds, hardly worth mentioning."

What are some alternatives to "as trifling as"?

Alternatives include "as insignificant as", "as trivial as", or "as minor as", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "as trifling as" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "as trifling as" may sound dismissive in highly formal contexts. Consider alternatives like "relatively minor" or "insignificant" for a more neutral tone.

What is the difference between "as trifling as" and "as unimportant as"?

While similar, "as trifling as" suggests something is not worth considering or is of little consequence, whereas "as unimportant as" directly states a lack of importance. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.