little consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not very important or does not have a significant impact. Example: "While the changes to the schedule are inconvenient, they are of little consequence in the grand scheme of things."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

— of little consequence.

The New York Times

The rule anyway is of little consequence.

The Economist

Strategically, it was of little consequence.

The New Yorker

Individually, these things are of little consequence.

The Guardian

WILL SMITH That is of little consequence.

The Guardian - Film

That turns out to be of little consequence.

MIT Technology Review

The seedings, meanwhile, will be adjusted with little consequence.

The Guardian - Sport

Besides, a lot of the closeups are of little consequence.

The New York Times - Sports

That is of little consequence to Mr. Lobe, 57.

The New York Times

Other ministers have taken contradictory public positions with little consequence.

The New York Times

As an astronomical body, it is of little consequence.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives if you want to emphasize the insignificance of something more emphatically. For example, using phrases like "completely irrelevant" or "utterly meaningless" can amplify the sense of unimportance compared to "little consequence".

Common error

While "little consequence" is generally acceptable, overusing it, especially in formal writing, can make your tone seem dismissive or casual. Vary your language with more sophisticated synonyms like "of negligible import" or "inconsequential" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little consequence" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or situation. It indicates that the subject being described is not important or impactful. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "little consequence" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express that something is not very important or impactful. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. It is suitable for various contexts, from news and media to academia, with a neutral register. While effective, be mindful of overuse, especially in formal writing, and consider stronger synonyms for emphasis. This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of its usage, alternatives, and potential pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of minor importance

Replaces "consequence" with "importance" and "little" with "minor", maintaining the overall meaning.

of slight significance

Substitutes "consequence" with "significance" and "little" with "slight", conveying a similar level of unimportance.

not very important

Uses a more direct and common way to express that something lacks importance.

of no great moment

Replaces "consequence" with "moment" and "little" with "no great", indicating a lack of importance.

relatively unimportant

Uses "relatively" to indicate a lower degree of importance.

scarcely matters

Expresses the idea of something not being important through the verb "matters".

bears little weight

Employs the metaphor of "weight" to convey a lack of importance or influence.

is of marginal concern

Indicates that something is only slightly relevant or important.

holds minimal value

Focuses on the lack of "value" to suggest unimportance.

is hardly relevant

Indicates a lack of relevance to suggest something is unimportant.

FAQs

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

You can use "little consequence" to describe something that has minimal impact or importance. For example, "The delay had "little consequence" on the overall project timeline".

What are some alternatives to "little consequence"?

Alternatives to "little consequence" include phrases like "minor importance", "slight significance", or "relatively unimportant", depending on the desired nuance.

Is "of little consequence" the same as "of no consequence"?

While similar, "of little consequence" implies some minimal impact, whereas "of no consequence" suggests absolutely no impact or importance whatsoever. The choice depends on the degree of insignificance you want to convey.

Which is more formal, "little consequence" or "minor importance"?

"Minor importance" is generally perceived as slightly more formal than "little consequence". However, both are suitable for most professional contexts. For very formal writing, consider "negligible import".