be of little consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be of little consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not important or does not have significant impact. Example: "While the details of the meeting were discussed, the outcome of the project was of little consequence to the overall success of the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

If Connecticut joins the crowd, its votes will be of little consequence.

The New York Times

In isolation, any single SNP is likely to be of little consequence.

The New York Times - Magazine

Normally that would be of little consequence, for capitalism is about failure as well as success.

The Economist

Cost seems to be of little consequence for customers who consider their pools the heart of their summer homes.

The New York Times - Travel

But experts say that these efforts will be of little consequence, given the magnitude of the coming demographic dislocation.

The New York Times

That these arrangements constitute little more than political daydreaming nearly two years before the next speaker is chosen seems to be of little consequence to most political leaders.

The New York Times

That will be of little consequence among the club's followers, however, who have unanimously warmed to Strachan after his desperately disappointing start.

The Guardian - Sport

As Maupassant interjects, summarising what they really think about the Prussian's demand: "Such a step would be of little consequence to her".

The Guardian - Books

The first is the proposed merger between Chuo Trust and Mitsui Trust, two weak banks that the FSA considers to be of little consequence.

The Economist

It recommends the continued use of uranium and says that exposure to depleted uranium in war 'would be of little consequence compared with other battlefield perils,' but levels of exposure 'would be unacceptable during peacetime conditions'.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Taken individually, each step may be of little consequence.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "be of little consequence", ensure the context clearly establishes what the potential consequences might have been, highlighting the contrast between expectation and reality.

Common error

Avoid using "be of little consequence" when the situation actually involves moderate or significant repercussions. Ensure that the situation genuinely warrants deeming the impact as negligible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be of little consequence" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It describes the subject by indicating that it has minimal or negligible importance. This can be seen in Ludwig examples where different events are stated to be of little importance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be of little consequence" is a versatile phrase used to denote that something is not important or impactful. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various domains, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While the phrase is generally suitable for formal contexts, it's essential to ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning of minimal impact, differentiating it from stronger terms like "be of no consequence". When writing, consider using alternatives such as "be of minor importance" or "have little significance" to vary your phrasing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be of minor importance

Replaces "little consequence" with "minor importance", emphasizing the lack of significance.

have little significance

Substitutes "be of" with "have", and "consequence" with "significance", focusing on the lack of importance.

be of no importance

Emphasizes the lack of importance more directly by using "no importance" instead of "little consequence".

matter little

Uses a more concise verb phrase to convey the same meaning, indicating something is not important.

be inconsequential

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective, "inconsequential", to mean not important.

carry little weight

Uses a metaphorical expression indicating something has little influence or importance.

be of marginal relevance

Focuses on the lack of relevance or pertinence, rather than general importance.

be a trivial matter

Identifies something as a "trivial matter", indicating it is unimportant and not worth serious consideration.

be practically meaningless

Highlights that something has almost no real-world value or effect.

not amount to much

An idiomatic expression indicating something is insignificant or has little value.

FAQs

How can I use "be of little consequence" in a sentence?

Use "be of little consequence" to indicate that something is not important or does not have a significant impact. For example: "The delay in the project turned out to "be of little consequence"."

What can I say instead of "be of little consequence"?

You can use alternatives like "be of minor importance", "have little significance", or "matter little" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was of little consequence" or "is of little consequence"?

Both "was of little consequence" and "is of little consequence" are grammatically correct, with the choice depending on whether you are referring to a past or present situation. For example: "The rain delay was of little consequence as the game was eventually cancelled" (past) versus "The rain delay is of little consequence as the game is unlikely to start" (present).

What's the difference between "be of little consequence" and "be of no consequence"?

"Be of little consequence" implies minimal impact, while "be of no consequence" suggests absolutely no impact or importance whatsoever. The latter is a stronger statement.