minor amendment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor amendment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small or insignificant change or modification to a document, plan, or agreement. Example: "The committee approved a minor amendment to the proposal to clarify the budget allocation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"Labour's amendment to the SNP's budget motion sought to change a fraction of the £214m budget, and as a minority administration, the SNP was prepared to accept this minor amendment in order to deliver a balanced budget for the people of Stirling, and deliver around 99% of our own proposals," he said.

BBC

A minor amendment was made to the penultimate paragraph of this article on 22 March 2010.

The Guardian - Opinion

This sixth paragraph of this article received a minor amendment for the sake of clarity at 3.45pm (ET) on 2 October.

The Guardian - Opinion

Any attempt to add even a minor amendment would force the legislation into a House-Senate conference, where opponents would be able to bottle it up.

The New York Times

And the main motion (plus another minor amendment, saying that the extension of free schools and academies would increase the amount of discrimination on religious grounds) has been carried overwhelmingly.

The Guardian

One of them is to propose a minor amendment to the Shays-Meehan bill with the purpose of sending it into a House-Senate conference, where the bill would almost certainly be derailed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The bill has now gone back to parliament for minor amendments.

The Economist

This draft would have been subject to minor amendments after being peer-reviewed.

The Guardian

These and a few other, more minor amendments were made at 15:15 (GMT) on 6 January 2010.

The Guardian

Yet even the critics dare not oppose the document as a whole; they talk only about minor amendments.

The Economist

This year, the governor has proposed several minor amendments, and Senate leaders said they expected to pass it again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor amendment", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being amended. Specify the document, plan, or agreement to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "minor amendment" when the change significantly alters the original intent or outcome. A more substantial term like "revision" or "modification" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor amendment" functions as a noun phrase, where "minor" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "amendment". It describes the nature or scale of the amendment, indicating it is small or insignificant. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor amendment" is a widely used and grammatically sound phrase for describing small or insignificant changes to documents, plans, or legal texts. Ludwig AI confirms that it is appropriate for use across various contexts, although it most frequently appears in news and media, as well as scientific sources. When employing this phrase, ensure the scale of the change aligns with the term "minor" and always specify what is being amended for clarity. Alternatives such as "slight modification" or "small adjustment" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight modification

Focuses on the subtlety of the change, emphasizing it is barely noticeable.

small adjustment

Highlights the act of adjusting something to be more precise.

insignificant alteration

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the change.

trivial revision

Highlights that the revision is of little consequence.

modest correction

Suggests a small error was fixed.

minimal change

Focuses on the extremely limited extent of the alteration.

unsubstantial modification

Highlights that the modification lacks significant impact.

minor adjustment

Emphasizes a small adjustment or correction.

light revision

Focuses on the ease and simplicity of the revision.

small modification

Emphasizes the size of the modification

FAQs

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

You can use "minor amendment" to describe a small change to a document, plan, or law. For example: "The committee approved a "minor amendment" to the budget proposal".

What is a good substitute for "minor amendment"?

Alternatives include "slight modification", "small adjustment", or "insignificant alteration" depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "minor amendment" or "small amendment"?

Both "minor amendment" and "small amendment" are acceptable, but "minor amendment" is slightly more formal and frequently used in legal or official contexts.

What's the difference between a "minor amendment" and a "major revision"?

A "minor amendment" involves small, often cosmetic changes that do not significantly alter the core content or intent. A "major revision", on the other hand, involves substantial changes that may significantly impact the original document or plan.