is negligible

USAGE SUMMARY

"is negligible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something is so small or insignificant that it can be disregarded or considered unimportant. Example: The cost of printing a few extra copies of the report is negligible compared to the overall budget.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Foreign investment is negligible.

The New York Times

The difference is negligible.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Audience participation is negligible.

The New York Times

Turnover is negligible.

The New York Times

"The budget impact is negligible.

The New York Times

The approval rate is negligible.

The New York Times

His environmental record is negligible.

The Guardian - Opinion

The work required is negligible.

The New York Times

Yet, so far, foreign investment is negligible.

The Economist

Cargo room is negligible under the hatchback.

The New York Times

The movement, purposely underdeveloped, is negligible.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is negligible" when you want to downplay the significance or impact of something. This can be particularly useful in reports, analyses, or arguments where you need to highlight certain factors while minimizing others.

Common error

While "is negligible" is useful, overuse can make your writing sound dismissive or condescending. Be mindful of the context and consider using alternative phrases like "is insignificant" or "is minimal" to add variety and nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is negligible" primarily functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or noun phrase, indicating that something is so small or unimportant that it can be disregarded. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is negligible" serves to diminish the significance of something, deeming it inconsequential enough to disregard. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and enjoys frequent usage across diverse contexts like news reporting, scientific literature, and encyclopedic entries. While interchangeable with alternatives like "is insignificant" or "is minimal", context matters. Overusing this phrase can make writing sound dismissive, so mindful application is key. The phrase finds frequent use in News & Media and Science sources, making it overall a very common construction in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is insignificant

Replaces "negligible" with a synonym conveying a lack of importance.

is inconsequential

Emphasizes that something has no relevant consequence.

is immaterial

Indicates that something is not pertinent or relevant to the matter at hand.

is minimal

Suggests that something is reduced to the smallest possible amount or degree.

is slight

Implies that something is small in degree or amount.

is trivial

Conveys that something is of little value or importance.

is unimportant

Directly states that something lacks significance.

is unsubstantial

Highlights the lack of real or concrete presence.

is paltry

Suggests that something is meager or worthless.

is inconsiderable

Highlights that something is not worthy of consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "is negligible" in a sentence?

The phrase "is negligible" indicates that something is so small or unimportant that it doesn't warrant attention or consideration. For example: "The error rate in the new software update "is negligible"."

What are some alternatives to saying "is negligible"?

Instead of "is negligible", you could use phrases like "is insignificant", "is minimal", or "is trivial" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "is negligible"?

Use "is negligible" when you want to emphasize that something has a minimal impact or effect and can be safely disregarded. It's often used in technical or analytical contexts to provide a sense of scale or proportion.

What's the difference between "is negligible" and "is insignificant"?

While both phrases suggest a lack of importance, "is negligible" often implies that something is so small it can be ignored, whereas "is insignificant" suggests a lack of consequence or impact, even if the thing itself isn't necessarily small. In many cases, they are interchangeable, however selecting the right one will depend on context.