minor decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a decision that is not significant or has little impact on the overall situation. Example: "Choosing what to have for lunch is just a minor decision compared to the bigger choices we face in life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Spelman probably took what seemed to be a minor decision quickly.

The Guardian

"They need some certainty it's not a one-year deal, because for them to buy a second truck for $100,000, it's not a minor decision".

The New York Times

Using a ten-minute quiz, it offers, free of charge, to help make a relatively minor decision about, say, whether to take time off to travel.

The New Yorker

2. Make everyone run on your schedule Be 20 minutes late to every meeting, leave early, and then get angry when a minor decision is made without your input.

The Guardian

The coach who is not a media darling will undergo overanalysis, particularly by sports talk show hosts who will beat a minor decision of the coach to death even though the particular play has no bearing on the outcome of the game.

The New York Times - Sports

2. Is this a minor decision?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Some minor decisions made before the trip had big consequences during it.

The New York Times

But like with Mercator's various technical manipulations, very minor decisions can have very major effects on how we see the world.

The Guardian

A partial list includes nearly endless rights of appeal, not merely against a verdict but against minor decisions along the way.

The Economist

Under the plan, the Bundestag's budget committee would be informed of minor decisions but there would be a fuller parliamentary consultation in other cases.

The New York Times

Close observers describe her as a "Whitehall warrior" – working 18-hour days and insisting on seeing every piece of paper that goes through her office, taking even minor decisions usually left to civil servants.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minor decision" when you want to downplay the importance of a choice or action. It's useful in contexts where focusing on larger issues is more important.

Common error

Avoid using "minor decision" when the decision actually has significant consequences. Choose a more appropriate term if the outcome is impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor decision" functions as a noun phrase, where 'minor' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'decision'. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minor decision" is a grammatically sound and usable term to describe a choice of little consequence. Ludwig AI supports this analysis. It is most frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science", indicating a relatively neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the decision truly is minor to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives include "insignificant choice" or "trivial determination", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insignificant choice

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the choice.

trivial determination

Highlights the minimal impact of the determination.

small-scale resolution

Focuses on the limited scope of the resolution.

unimportant judgment

Stresses the lack of significance in the judgment.

secondary ruling

Indicates the ruling is not primary or crucial.

slight call

Highlights the minimal effort or impact of the call.

modest determination

Emphasizes the limited scope of the determination.

negligible choice

Focuses on the almost nonexistent impact of the choice.

inconsequential ruling

Stresses the lack of consequences from the ruling.

petty judgment

Highlights the insignificant and possibly annoying nature of the judgment.

FAQs

How to use "minor decision" in a sentence?

You can use "minor decision" to describe a choice that has little to no impact. For example, "Choosing what color pen to use is a "minor decision" compared to deciding on the project's overall strategy".

What can I say instead of "minor decision"?

You can use alternatives like "insignificant choice", "trivial determination", or "small-scale resolution" depending on the context.

Is "minor decision" formal or informal?

The phrase "minor decision" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but alternatives like "inconsequential ruling" might be more appropriate for highly formal settings.

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

A "minor decision" has little to no impact, while a "major decision" carries significant consequences and requires careful consideration.