i made a small modification

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I made a small modification" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that you have made a minor alteration to something. For example, "I made a small modification to the recipe, substituting vegetable oil for butter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I think I made a small step forward," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

I made a small movement, and he turned his head.

The New Yorker

"The focus of the civic authorities is not on safety but on checking who is making a small modification to the structure, so that they can pressure the person to pay a bribe," said Rahul Srivastava, the other co-founder of URBZ.

The New York Times

A second way of using a long-term secret shared by the user and an IdP to provide a second layer of user authentication involves making a small modification to the asymmetric proof-key service, outlined in Section 2.2.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Making a small modification to the method of Izutani and Hirasawa (1987a, b), we assume that D ij is in proportion to d ij as, (3) where the subscripts 1 and 2 stand for the main shock and the largest aftershock, respectively.

Earth, Planets and Space

To improve sensitivity it was necessary to make a small modification to auxiliary input circuitry.

British Journal of Cancer

Make a small modification on your working copy, then refresh the the Working Copy window.

WikiHow

I make a small rest".

The New York Times - Sports

"I make a small peeping sound, like a baby chick".

The New York Times - Books

"Heck, I've made a small fortune myself".

The New York Times

In response to some issues identified during these interviews, we made a small number of modifications by shifting the focus of an item or by using a less literal translation.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I made a small modification", ensure the context clearly indicates what was modified and why. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "I made a small modification" when the change was actually substantial. Ensure the adjective accurately reflects the scope of the alteration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I made a small modification" functions as a statement of action, indicating that the speaker has performed a minor alteration. According to Ludwig, this construction is correct and usable. It's a direct way to communicate that a slight adjustment has been made.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I made a small modification" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that the speaker has performed a minor alteration. While Ludwig confirms its validity, its use is relatively rare. The phrase is versatile enough to appear in neutral contexts, like news, scientific writing, and wikis, without sounding out of place. When using it, ensure clarity by specifying what was modified and avoid overstating the change's significance. Alternatives such as "I made a slight adjustment" or "I altered it slightly" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I made a slight adjustment

Substitutes "small modification" with "slight adjustment".

I adjusted it minimally

Replaces "small modification" with "adjusted it minimally", emphasizing the minimal nature of the change.

I implemented a slight change

Replaces "made a small modification" with "implemented a slight change", focusing on the action of implementing.

I introduced a minor adjustment

Uses "introduced a minor adjustment" instead of "made a small modification", emphasizing the introduction of the adjustment.

I altered it slightly

Simplifies the phrase to "altered it slightly", using a more concise structure.

I tweaked it a little

Replaces formal terms with informal ones like "tweaked" and "a little".

I refined it somewhat

Uses "refined it somewhat" to indicate a degree of improvement or precision.

I revised it subtly

Uses "revised it subtly" to suggest a delicate or understated alteration.

I edited it briefly

Refers to the action of making a brief change by editing.

I adapted it marginally

Uses the term "adapted it marginally" to imply a small adaptation.

FAQs

How can I use "I made a small modification" in a sentence?

You can use "I made a small modification" to indicate that you have altered something slightly. For example, "I made a small modification to the design to improve its usability."

What can I say instead of "I made a small modification"?

You can use alternatives like "I made a slight adjustment", "I altered it slightly", or "I introduced a minor adjustment depending on the context.

Is it okay to say "I did a small modification"?

While understandable, "I did a small modification" is less common and idiomatic than "I made a small modification". The latter is generally preferred in formal and informal contexts.

What is the difference between "I made a small modification" and "I made a minor change"?

The phrases "I made a small modification" and "I made a minor change" are largely interchangeable. "Modification" might suggest a more technical or deliberate alteration, while "change" is more general. However, in practice, they convey very similar meanings.