minor agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant level of consensus or accord between parties. Example: "While we have a minor agreement on the project's direction, there are still several key issues to resolve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The U.S. might think it's great to have two conservative governments, but these are two allies that can't even sign a minor agreement," said Daniel C. Sneider, a researcher on East Asian diplomacy at Stanford University.

The New York Times

He even flogged a minor agreement with Facebook, which will repost users' status updates on their Windows Live home pages.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

FOR all the talk of security breaches and boycotts, the first Saudi Arabian state visit to Britain in 20 years passed off as these things usually do with mutual expressions of goodwill and a few minor agreements.

The Economist

In the afternoon, Mr. Hu and President Vicente Fox signed several minor agreements with great fanfare, among them one providing mutual tax limits on companies doing business in both countries and another that will allow Mexico to export grapes to China in return for importing Chinese pears.

The New York Times

Sprinkle minor agreements throughout the conversation.

WikiHow

All of the major issues of Mussina's agreement have been resolved, but there was some contract language and minor issues still being discussed.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus, the modification of the electrochemical properties produced by the presence of a step in the (100) terrace is minor, in agreement with the experimental results.

Electrochimica Acta

Held in Washington, D.C., the conference resulted in the drafting and signing of several major and minor treaty agreements.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Ottawa Conference that August produced little result, with Chamberlain bringing home several minor bilateral trade agreements, and no general agreement.

Wikipedia

This system categorises discrepancies between clinical and post mortem diagnoses into three groups – major, minor and complete agreement.

Critical Care

Assent represents a minor's affirmative agreement to participate in the trial, which typically involves signing a document that provides age appropriate information about the study.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor agreement", ensure the context clarifies the scope and limitations of the agreement. For example, specify what aspects are agreed upon and what remains unresolved.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "minor agreement" as a major breakthrough. Clearly communicate the limited nature of the consensus to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor agreement" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. As Ludwig AI describes, it denotes a small or insignificant level of consensus.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minor agreement" is a grammatically sound and usable term in English, although Ludwig's AI shows its frequency is rare. It's employed to describe a limited or insignificant consensus between parties. As such, it is crucial to provide context that clarifies the scope of the accord and to avoid overstating its importance. Alternatives include "slight consensus" or "limited accord". Primarily found in news, scientific, and wiki sources, the phrase maintains a neutral to professional register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight consensus

Emphasizes the presence of some agreement, but of a small degree.

limited accord

Indicates a restricted level of agreement between parties.

partial agreement

Highlights that the agreement is not complete or comprehensive.

small degree of consensus

More explicitly describes the extent of agreement.

superficial understanding

Suggests an agreement that lacks depth or commitment.

preliminary understanding

Indicates an agreement that is initial and may be subject to change.

basic concurrence

Points to a fundamental level of agreement on certain aspects.

narrow consensus

Highlights that the agreement is limited to a specific area.

tacit agreement

Implies an agreement that is understood without being explicitly stated.

fragile consensus

Implies that the agreement is tenuous and easily broken.

FAQs

How can I use "minor agreement" in a sentence?

You can use "minor agreement" to describe situations where there is a small amount of accord. For example: "While we have a "minor agreement" on the project's direction, there are still several key issues to resolve."

What are some alternatives to "minor agreement"?

Alternatives to "minor agreement" include "slight consensus", "limited accord", or "partial agreement", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "minor agreement" in formal writing?

Yes, "minor agreement" is appropriate for formal writing. However, ensure that your writing clearly defines the scope and limitations of the "minor agreement" to maintain clarity.

What's the difference between "minor agreement" and "major agreement"?

"Minor agreement" signifies a small or limited consensus, while "major agreement" indicates a substantial or comprehensive consensus. A "minor agreement" might cover specific details, whereas a major agreement encompasses core principles.