make a small contribution to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a small contribution to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of providing a minor amount of help, support, or resources towards a cause, project, or effort. Example: "Every little bit helps, and I hope my donation can make a small contribution to the charity's mission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

"I hope this will make a small contribution to pushing our prime minister forward.

The New York Times

It would surely generate enough heat, and light, to make a small contribution to the Bush energy plan.

The New York Times

I record this story in order to clear my name and to make a small contribution to the history of journalistic ethics.

The New Yorker

aMoment asks its audience to take precisely that: a moment to listen to some audio, and then climb inside a petite and intricately crafted caravan and make a small contribution to the art work.

The Guardian

McLeod hopes that the book will "make a small contribution to the continued vitality of the Cree language, and to help provide people interested in the language to be able to use it to describe the world around them".

The Guardian - Books

I did make a small contribution to a culinary enterprise in St. Francisville, buying a glass of lemonade from a young girl with a sidewalk stand on Ferdinand Street.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

We present evidence that correlation between residues is related to their distance apart most environmental parameters of the outer layer make a smaller contribution to prediction and ii catalytic residues tend to be located near key positions in enzyme folds.

Plosone

Nevertheless, it is true that small differential co-expression arrangements make a smaller contribution to the RIF output than the large co-expression changes, assuming the abundance and differential expression of the target gene remains constant.

BMC Genomics

It seems clear that critical trigger loop residues in T. aquaticus provide the bulk of its function, while homologous residues in E. coli make a smaller contribution to trigger loop function.

BMC Biology

I can only hope my efforts have made a small contribution to repairing old damage.

The Guardian

I simply made a small contribution to a match that was very tough, very rough".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure the 'to' preposition is included after 'contribution'. Omitting 'to' changes the meaning.

Common error

Avoid overstating the significance of your contribution. Using "make a small contribution to" implies a limited impact, so ensure your statement aligns with the actual scale of your involvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a small contribution to" functions as a verb phrase that describes the act of providing limited assistance or support towards a particular cause, project, or effort. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a small contribution to" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe providing minor assistance or support. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While suitable for various contexts, it's important to consider the audience and adjust the phrasing to better suit formal settings. The phrase is primarily used in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts, and it's crucial to avoid overstating the impact of your contribution. Remember that using alternative phrasing like "offer a minor input to" or "provide a little support for" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide a little support for

Uses 'support' instead of 'contribution', emphasizing assistance.

offer a minor input to

Replaces 'contribution' with 'input', suggesting a less tangible form of support.

offer some assistance to

Focuses on the act of offering help rather than the impact.

lend a helping hand with

An idiomatic expression suggesting assistance, but less formal.

give a modicum of support to

Uses 'modicum' to emphasize the small quantity of support.

assist in a limited capacity with

Highlights both the assistance and the constraints on involvement.

play a minor role in

Highlights the limited involvement in a broader effort.

add a little to

A simple and direct way of expressing a small addition or contribution.

chip in a small amount for

Implies a financial contribution specifically.

add a drop in the bucket for

An idiomatic way to express an insignificant contribution to a large cause.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "make a small contribution to" for a more formal tone?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "offer a minor input to" or "provide a little support for", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "make a small contribution in" instead of "make a small contribution to"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct preposition to use with "contribution" in this context is "to". Using "in" would change the meaning and be grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "make a small contribution to" and "make a significant contribution to"?

"Make a small contribution to" indicates a minor level of assistance or support, whereas "make a significant contribution to" implies a much more substantial and impactful contribution.

What are some situations where it's best to use "make a small contribution to"?

It's best to use "make a small contribution to" when you want to acknowledge your assistance without exaggerating its importance. This is especially useful in professional or academic contexts where honesty and accuracy are valued.