it makes little difference

USAGE SUMMARY

"it makes little difference" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that something is not significant or does not have a major impact. It can also be used to indicate the insignificance of a certain choice or action. Example: "Whether we take the highway or the back roads, it makes little difference in terms of travel time." In this sentence, the speaker is indicating that the choice between the two routes has no significant impact on how long the journey will take.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He concludes that even when different sets of orthogonal pilots are used in different cells, it makes little difference to the resulting signal-to-interference ratio (SIR).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The results show that C-terminal amidation increases the antimicrobial activity but that it makes little difference to its proteolytic degradation in human serum.

Plosone

We note that it makes little difference either taking the same size distribution or assuming different size distributions for silicate and graphite.

Earth, Planets and Space

To Araki it makes little difference.

The Guardian - Arts

It makes little difference to me".

The New York Times

That loop is gone; but it makes little difference.

The Economist

He also commented, "For many, it makes little difference.

The New Yorker

It makes little difference that as governor I am gay.

The New York Times

To Mr. Gross, it makes little difference what is ultimately decided.

The New York Times

Where they feel it makes little difference, as in Westminster elections, the turnout nose-dives.

The New York Times

It makes little difference that the governors of all three states are Republicans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it makes little difference" to concisely express that a particular factor has a minimal impact on the outcome. This phrase is effective for streamlining explanations and avoiding unnecessary detail.

Common error

Avoid using "it makes little difference" when the factor in question actually has a significant effect. Ensure your assessment of the situation is accurate to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

It makes little difference functions as an idiomatic expression to indicate that something has a negligible impact or is of minor consequence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, meaning it is a standard way to express insignificance. Examples show its versatility across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it makes little difference" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something is of minimal importance or has a negligible impact. According to Ludwig, the phrase is widely accepted and used across varied contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions. While alternatives like ""it hardly matters"" or ""it is of little consequence"" exist, the original phrase remains a concise and effective way to express insignificance in both formal and informal settings. Remember to use this phrase judiciously, ensuring your assessment of impact aligns with the actual situation to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is of little consequence

Emphasizes the lack of importance or impact.

it hardly matters

Highlights the insignificance of something.

it's not a big deal

Indicates something is not problematic or significant.

it's all the same

Implies there is no discernible difference.

it's immaterial

Suggests something is irrelevant or unimportant.

it's negligible

Indicates the effect is so small it can be disregarded.

it's inconsequential

Stresses the lack of importance or consequence.

it has no bearing

Implies something has no relevance or influence.

it's not worth considering

Suggests something is unimportant and should be ignored.

it's a moot point

Indicates the point is not worth discussing because it has no practical effect.

FAQs

How can I use "it makes little difference" in a sentence?

You can use "it makes little difference" to indicate that something has a minimal impact or is of little consequence. For example, "Whether we go by car or train, "it makes little difference" to the overall cost."

What are some alternatives to "it makes little difference"?

Alternatives include "it hardly matters", "it is of little consequence", or "it's not a big deal" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it makes small difference" instead of "it makes little difference"?

While "it makes small difference" is understandable, ""it makes little difference"" is the more idiomatic and commonly used expression.

What's the difference between "it makes no difference" and "it makes little difference"?

"It makes no difference" implies that something has absolutely no impact, while ""it makes little difference"" suggests that the impact is minimal but not necessarily zero.