little amounts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little amounts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to small quantities of something, often in contexts like measurements, resources, or financial discussions. Example: "The recipe calls for little amounts of salt to enhance the flavor without overpowering the dish."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Left out in the cold, they go to the one place that welcomes whatever little amounts of money they have: credit unions.

The Guardian - Money

For little amounts of money in a short period of time, you can understand whether consumers will adopt your application," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

"All their lives they have been saving up little amounts to buy this car".Yet there is plenty more to cry about over the Suzuki Mehran, Pakistan's bottom-of-the-range car.

The Economist

Application of these methods requires little amounts of biomass and reagents [20, 21].

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

This may be due to the presence of little amounts of unreacted reactant.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

Special emphasis is put on little amounts of water which can cause low adhesion without any oil or grease.

Tribology International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"It made a nice, little amount of money," he told Stern.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

As a symbol, though, that little amount of time loomed large.

The New York Times

The oil contains a little amount of asphaltene (1 wt%).

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

"A very little amount, but the result is clear".

Science Magazine

As little amount of esters were added in, the saturation vapor pressure was depressed obviously.

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is key, specify "little amounts" with a unit of measure (e.g., "little amounts of salt", "little amounts of data").

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "little amounts" excessively in formal or academic writing; opt for more precise or sophisticated terms like "minimal quantities" or "trace amounts" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little amounts" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes quantities that are considered small or insignificant. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

22%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little amounts" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase used to describe small quantities. While acceptable across various contexts, including science, news, and media, it is more informal compared to alternatives like "minimal quantities". Ludwig AI confirms its usability. When using "little amounts", consider your audience and the desired level of formality, opting for more precise language in formal writing. Remember to specify the unit of measure for clarity. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively communicate the smallness of a quantity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small quantities

Emphasizes the plural nature of the amounts, focusing on the number of small portions.

tiny quantities

Highlights the extremely small size of the quantities.

slight amounts

Implies that the amounts are barely noticeable or significant.

minimal quantities

Indicates the least possible amount.

meager quantities

Suggests the amounts are insufficient or inadequate.

limited quantities

Focuses on the restriction or scarcity of the amounts.

small proportions

Emphasizes the relative size of the amounts in relation to a whole.

modest quantities

Indicates the amounts are humble or unassuming.

minute quantities

Stresses the extremely small and precise nature of the amounts.

negligible quantities

Suggests the amounts are so small they can be ignored.

FAQs

How can I use "little amounts" in a sentence?

You can use "little amounts" to describe small quantities of something, such as "The recipe requires only "little amounts" of spice" or "Little amounts of funding were allocated to the project".

What are some alternatives to "little amounts"?

Alternatives to "little amounts" include "small quantities", "minimal amounts", "slight amounts", or "tiny quantities", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "small amount" or "little amount"?

Both "small amount" and "little amount" can be grammatically correct, but "small amount" is generally more common. "Little" can sometimes imply insignificance in addition to size.

Which is correct, "little amounts of" or "small amounts of"?

"Small amounts of" is generally preferred in formal writing. "Little amounts of" is also acceptable but may sound slightly less formal. Both refer to a small quantity of something.