minor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something of lesser importance, significance, or size, often in contrast to something major. Example: "The changes we made to the project were minor and did not affect the overall outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Initial assessments found the airstrip sustained "minor to light" damage, and is open to medical emergency aircraft but not public flights.

The Guardian

In 1944 he was one of two children from Walsden board school to be awarded a county minor scholarship to Todmorden grammar school.

The Guardian - Business

One of the hallmarks of the early culture wars was that both sides were equally alert to minor slights.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now, I don't expect anyone outside the Westminster bubble to find this minor incident all that enthralling on its own.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you don't make a claim, there is no guarantee that your premium won't go up if you have even a minor accident.

The Guardian - Money

Every time we detect one it's a minor miracle Howard Jones In the hunt for Sky and Hope, covert surveillance was no help.

The Guardian

Introduces on-the-spot fixed penalties for a range of minor offences, including being drunk and disorderly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Months away from our next election, we don't have a clue what sort of government we might end up with and which currently obscure player from a minor party could be calling the shots.

The Guardian - Opinion

In which case, the minor parties at Westminster are going to become major players.

The Guardian - Opinion

NHS Choices says the nasal spray is safer and more effective than the injected vaccine and has only minor side-effects such as a runny nose, fever, muscle ache and headache.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It includes too many minor characters who don't really get to play out their stories.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor" to describe something of lesser importance, ensure the context clearly establishes what the major or more significant element is for effective comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "minor" to describe issues that have significant underlying implications. While something may appear small on the surface, consider its potential long-term or indirect effects before dismissing it as "minor".

Linguistic Context

The word "minor" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate something of lesser importance, size, or significance. It can also function as a noun, referring to a person under the legal age. As Ludwig AI pointed out, "minor" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

20%

Lifestyle

18%

Less common in

Sport

12%

Travel

4%

Film

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor" is a versatile term primarily functioning as an adjective to denote something of lesser importance or size, and as a noun to refer to a person under the legal age. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. It's widely used in news, business, and lifestyle domains, showcasing a neutral register. When using "minor", ensure clarity in comparison with more significant elements and avoid downplaying issues with underlying implications. Related terms include "lesser", "smaller", and "insignificant", providing alternative ways to express varying degrees of reduced importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lesser

Indicates a reduced degree or amount, similar to "minor" but emphasizing the comparative aspect.

smaller

Focuses on the physical size or extent, akin to "minor" when referring to dimensions.

insignificant

Highlights the lack of importance or consequence, much like "minor" in certain contexts.

trivial

Emphasizes the unimportance or lack of seriousness, similar to "minor" when downplaying significance.

slight

Indicates a small degree or extent, resembling "minor" in describing a small difference or impact.

negligible

Suggests something so small or unimportant that it can be disregarded, similar to "minor" when minimizing impact.

secondary

Indicates a lower level of importance or priority, like "minor" when referring to a less important aspect.

subordinate

Implies a lower rank or position, comparable to "minor" when denoting a less significant role.

inconsequential

Highlights the lack of importance or relevance, similarly to "minor" when dismissing significance.

petty

Indicates something of little importance or concern, like "minor" when referring to insignificant matters.

FAQs

How to use "minor" in a sentence?

"Minor" can be used as an adjective to describe something of lesser importance, size, or intensity, such as "a "minor issue"" or "minor alterations". It can also be a noun, referring to a person under the legal age of majority.

What can I say instead of "minor"?

You can use alternatives like "lesser", "smaller", "insignificant", or "slight" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "minor issue" or "small issue"?

Both "minor issue" and "small issue" are correct, but they can convey slightly different meanings. "Minor issue" suggests the issue is of lesser importance, while "small issue" may refer to the size or scope of the issue.

What's the difference between "minor" and "secondary"?

"Minor" generally implies something of lesser importance or size, while "secondary" suggests a supporting or less prominent role. For example, a "minor" character in a film is less important, whereas a "secondary" road is a road that branches off a main road.