is merely another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is merely another" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is simply one more example or instance of a larger category or concept. Example: "This new policy is merely another attempt to address the ongoing issue of climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Another British jihadi is merely another fool in a mask.

Independent

In one sense it is merely another bit of technospeak.

The New York Times - Tech

This is merely another chapter in the life of my body.

The New York Times

Indeed, market discipline by depositors is merely another name for bank panics.

Harvard Business Review

It is merely another excuse to dismiss, ignore and marginalise women's voices, both literally and figuratively.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Goebel's optimistic spin is merely another sign of maturity for the 21-year-old talent.

The New York Times - Sports

Another type of bookie is "the agnostic entrepreneur," for whom bookmaking is merely another business opportunity.

The New York Times - Magazine

Yet this is merely another twist in the frenetic recent history of Leeds United.

The Guardian - Sport

This strike, he says, is merely another coup attempt.The chaos in Venezuela is more than a little local difficulty.

The Economist

If it is merely another charade, then more pressure needs to be applied to the world's ugliest regime.

The Economist

Yet it is merely another incident in a movie that gives everything equal weight; it's all a lark.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is merely another" to downplay the significance of something or to indicate that it is not unique or exceptional. This can be useful in contexts where you want to avoid exaggerating the importance of a particular event or development.

Common error

Be cautious when using "is merely another" as it can come across as dismissive or condescending. Ensure that your intention is not to belittle or undermine something, but rather to provide a balanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is merely another" functions as a linking phrase that connects a subject to a category or concept, emphasizing that the subject is not unique or exceptional. As Ludwig AI shows, this construction is versatile across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is merely another" serves to categorize something as one of many, often implying a lack of uniqueness or special significance. Grammatically sound and quite common, it appears frequently in news and media, and also in scientific and encyclopedic texts. Ludwig AI confirms its versatile applicability. While "is merely another" can be useful for providing perspective, writers should be aware that it can also come across as dismissive if used insensitively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is simply another

Replaces "merely" with "simply", offering a slightly less formal and more direct tone. It retains the core meaning of something being just another instance.

is just another

Substitutes "merely" with "just", providing a more casual and common alternative, often implying ordinariness or lack of significance.

is only another

Uses "only" instead of "merely", which emphasizes that something is nothing more than just another instance, highlighting its lack of uniqueness.

is effectively another

Highlights the functional equivalence of something to another, suggesting that despite potential differences, the outcome or effect is the same.

is essentially another

Indicates that something is fundamentally the same as another, despite superficial differences.

amounts to another

Implies that something is equivalent to another, often suggesting a negative or underwhelming outcome.

represents another

Indicates that something serves as a further example or manifestation of a particular trend or phenomenon.

is no more than another

Emphasizes the limited significance or value of something, positioning it as simply another instance without special merit.

is but another

This alternative is a more formal or literary way of saying "is just another", conveying a sense of inevitability or resignation.

is virtually another

Suggests that something is almost the same as another, highlighting their close similarity or equivalence.

FAQs

What does "is merely another" mean?

The phrase "is merely another" means that something is simply one more example of a larger category or type, implying it is not unique or special.

When is it appropriate to use "is merely another"?

Use "is merely another" when you want to downplay the importance of something or indicate it's not unique. Be mindful of the tone, as it can sometimes sound dismissive.

What are some alternatives to "is merely another"?

You can use alternatives like "is simply another", "is just another", or "is only another" depending on the context and desired nuance.

How does "is merely another" differ from "is just another"?

"Is merely another" and "is just another" are quite similar. "Merely" might suggest a slightly more formal tone compared to the more casual "just", but they generally convey the same meaning of something being nothing more than another example.