make a small adjustment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a small adjustment" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a minor change or modification in a process, plan, or item. For example, "Please make a small adjustment to the report before submitting it." Alternative expressions include "make a slight change," "make a minor modification," and "make a little tweak."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Readers who meet a writer whose voice they have fallen in love with usually need to make a small adjustment afterward in order to hang on to the infatuation.

The New Yorker

Because sometimes, it's better to make a small adjustment that you can stick to rather than a list of unattainable goals.

Forbes

Just make a small adjustment: set the alignment for the text field to left.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The sides converged, clasping her firmly, and then, as she made a small adjustment, relaxed their grip slightly.

The New Yorker

"On the formation lap we made a small adjustment on the clutch," said Webber, adding that the clutch failed anyway and he lost precious seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

STYLISHLY disheveled like a movie star, with sneakers, shades and slicked-back hair, the rising tenor of the moment sprawled across a sofa, made a small adjustment to the pull of a tight shirt and yawned.

The New York Times

Every so often, he steals a glance at the diners, and makes a small adjustment on his iPhone, turning up the volume on the music to make people lean in if they seem hesitant to talk, and turning it down once the social mood has been established.

The New Yorker

She's improving that wide, slice serve, which is very, very important as, normally speaking, it will go to a righty's backhand, but you have to be very, very careful even making a small adjustment.

BBC

If they were determined to be fake, the generator then made a small adjustment to the image and tried again.

Vice

The PROFILE form counts more assets than the Fafsa, disregards paper losses, considers the finances of both parents in divorce situations, and makes a smaller adjustment when there are multiple children in college at the same time.

The New York Times

However, they differ in that the Polish system pays a higher tariff in the case of comorbidities, with or without catheterisation, while the Irish system puts greater value on the presence of catheterisation in calculating reimbursement, while making a smaller adjustment for the case of comorbidities in the absence of catheterisation.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "make a small adjustment", be specific about the area or aspect requiring the change to avoid ambiguity and ensure the adjustment is targeted and effective.

Common error

Avoid using "make a small adjustment" when a significant overhaul is needed. This can downplay the required effort and lead to inadequate solutions. Clearly communicate the scope of the required change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a small adjustment" functions as a directive or suggestion to modify something slightly. It is commonly used to recommend a minor alteration to improve a situation, process, or object. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a small adjustment" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to suggest or direct a minor modification. Ludwig AI analysis shows its wide applicability across various contexts, from news to technical guides. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the target area for change. While versatile, avoid using it when a substantial change is actually needed. Related phrases include "make a slight alteration" and "tweak slightly", offering nuanced alternatives for conveying the intended level of adjustment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a minor correction

Replaces "adjustment" with "correction", emphasizing rectification.

make a slight alteration

Substitutes "small adjustment" with "slight alteration", focusing on a minimal change.

make a subtle modification

Replaces "adjustment" with "modification" and "small" with "subtle", highlighting a barely noticeable change.

make a minimal change

Emphasizes the reduced scope of the "adjustment".

tweak slightly

Uses the verb "tweak" to replace "make an adjustment", implying a minor refinement.

fine-tune a bit

Replaces the whole phrase with "fine-tune a bit", indicating a small refinement for optimal performance.

make a modest revision

Substitutes "small adjustment" with "modest revision", implying a limited change.

make a negligible alteration

The change is very small, almost insignificant.

make a fractional shift

Indicates an extremely small movement or change.

make a diminutive alteration

Uses the word "diminutive" to highlight the extreme smallness of the alteration.

FAQs

How can I use "make a small adjustment" in a sentence?

You can use "make a small adjustment" when you need to indicate a minor change or modification. For example, "Could you please "make a small adjustment" to the budget before the meeting?"

What's a good alternative to "make a small adjustment"?

Alternatives include "make a slight change", "tweak slightly", or "fine-tune a bit", depending on the context.

Is it better to "make a small adjustment" or "make a big adjustment"?

The choice depends on the extent of the change required. "Make a small adjustment" implies a minor alteration, while "make a big adjustment" suggests a more substantial change is needed.

What's the difference between "make a small adjustment" and "make a minor correction"?

"Make a small adjustment" generally refers to tweaking something to improve it, whereas "make a minor correction" specifically addresses fixing an error.