by some bit of

USAGE SUMMARY

This is a valid part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that something happened in some small way. For example: "I was surprised by some bit of news I read in the paper today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

BY some bit of celestial sense of humor, the algorithms and biorhythms that determine where people buy second homes are often the same ones that determine where hurricanes are prevalent.

The New York Times

Has there ever been a case where a presidential decision has been influenced by some bit of information that might appear on a tax form?

The New York Times

"A toy left in his path, a pencil with no point, a departure delayed by some bit of domestic business," Ms. Styron writes.

The New York Times - Books

I was constantly fascinated to see how, his interest having been piqued by some bit of flora or fauna, he could suddenly take off on long and adventurous flights of erudition.

The New Yorker

But if by some bit of bad luck your item doesn't sell to another user, FOBO will buy it for the guaranteed starting price and do the hard work of reselling it.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Considering its dimensions — and the scale of the stage — the show has a surprisingly ample five-piece band, with drums, guitars and piano abetted by some bits of brass and the harmonica, naturally.

The New York Times

Also, consider the benefit of responding with a "yes, and" approach, by attempting to find some bit of wisdom that you can build on as opposed to tear down.

Huffington Post

At first, JR's attempts at graffiti were motivated by a simple thrill: claiming some bit of concrete for himself.

The New Yorker

During this process faults are introduced by flipping some bits of the fields of a record through random selection.

Journal of Cloud Computing

And nearly every work is animated by some lush bit of painting: a tabletop laid on in a single broad stroke, a background color that has a life of its own or some other passage of deft but declarative brushwork.

The New York Times - Arts

Oliver Knussen puts it well: "Schumann is quite merciless – just as you're getting over having your heart broken by some incredible bit of harmony, he does it to you again in the very next phrase".

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by some bit of" when you want to indicate that a factor has a small but noticeable influence on something.

Common error

Avoid using "by some bit of" when the influence is significant; opt for stronger terms like "largely due to" or "significantly impacted by" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by some bit of" functions as a prepositional modifier, indicating that something is affected or influenced to a small extent. It adds a nuance of partial or limited impact, as seen in Ludwig's examples where decisions are influenced by certain factors.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by some bit of" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate a slight or partial influence. As Ludwig AI notes, it implies a minor contribution or impact, qualifying a statement without overstating the cause. While grammatically correct and found in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is not a particularly common expression. When writing, use "by some bit of" to accurately convey a limited influence, and consider stronger alternatives if a more significant impact is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly influenced by

Directly indicates that something has been affected to a minor degree.

partially determined by

Emphasizes the role of a factor in shaping an outcome, though not entirely.

somewhat affected by

Similar to "slightly influenced by", but might suggest a more noticeable, though still not overwhelming, impact.

to a certain extent

Expresses a degree of influence or impact, similar to "by some bit of", but focuses on the scope or range of the effect.

to a certain degree

Suggests that influence or change is limited to a specified value.

in a small measure

Highlights the limited quantity or degree of influence or contribution.

to a limited degree

Indicates that something is true or applicable only within certain bounds or conditions.

in a minor way

Highlights that the change or impact is not very significant.

marginally impacted by

Suggests the smallest degree of influence, near the threshold of being negligible.

affected in some way

General statement indicating some kind of change or influence without specifying the grade.

FAQs

How can I use "by some bit of" in a sentence?

You can use "by some bit of" to indicate a slight or partial influence, as in "The decision was influenced "slightly influenced by" the recent market trends".

What are some alternatives to "by some bit of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "to a certain extent", "in a small measure", or ""slightly influenced by"", each conveying a limited degree of impact.

Is "by some bit of" formal or informal?

The phrase "by some bit of" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "to a certain degree".

What's the difference between "by some bit of" and "largely due to"?

"By some bit of" indicates a minor influence, while "largely due to" suggests a primary or major cause. Use "by some bit of" when the factor is just one of many influencing elements, and "largely due to" when it's a key determinant.