minor deviation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor deviation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small or insignificant change from a standard or expected outcome. Example: "The project experienced a minor deviation from the original timeline, but it is still on track for completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

This shouldn't come as a surprise, though it's a minor deviation from the norm.

The New York Times - Arts

Model predicted values were found in good agreement with the experimental values, and the behavior of the model equation has supported the experimental observation with minor deviation.

Journal of Water Process Engineering

Countries in the region fear that South Korea's minor deviation from nuclear orthodoxy could be used by North Korea to justify is nuclear weapons program and to boycott the next round of regional disarmament talks, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 22 in Beijing.

The New York Times

Structural and static properties such as elastic constants and spontaneous polarization show minor deviation with chosen system size, while the transition temperatures and the coercive field are largely affected by it.

Computational Materials Science

And for good commercial reasons: their model showed that even a minor deviation from this "ideal" level of slant would hurt profits through a sizeable loss of circulation.Have I got skews for youShowing that newspapers have a political slant that is economically rational does not necessarily answer the question of whether ownership or demand determines bias.

The Economist

But in fact, this minor deviation can make a big difference: it means that the Earth's distance from the Sun changes over its orbit to the tune of over 5 million kilometers!

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Delays in the approval or non-approval of studies involving minorities were mainly due to major or minor deviations from acceptable ethical standards and/or unclear research methodology.

BMC Medical Ethics

What these two seemingly minor deviations meant is that 1.

Cornell University

Complications in scoring some characters necessitated minor deviations from the scheme put forward by Cain (1988), summarised in Table 1.

Nature

Reaching his peroration against Browder, Shachtman recited the names of the European Communist leaders who, for their own minor deviations, had been liquidated by Stalin.

The New York Times - Books

Proposing for the ayes was Earl Browder, a loyal Stalinist who had nonetheless been removed by Moscow (for some minor deviations) from the leadership of the American Communist Party.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a small error in data, specify the unit of measurement to give context to the "minor deviation".

Common error

Avoid implying that a "minor deviation" is acceptable without explicitly stating the degree of impact. Always clarify the consequences, even if seemingly insignificant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor deviation" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used as a subject or object in a sentence. It serves to identify a small difference or divergence from an expected norm or standard. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in both scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minor deviation" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe small differences from a norm, standard, or expectation. According to Ludwig AI, its usage spans scientific and general contexts, with a predominantly neutral tone. When writing, ensure you provide enough context to illustrate the nature and potential consequences of the "minor deviation", avoiding assumptions of acceptability. Consider alternatives like "slight variance" or "small discrepancy" based on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight variance

Emphasizes the small degree of difference or change.

small discrepancy

Highlights a difference that is not significant in size or impact.

marginal difference

Indicates a difference that is barely noticeable or consequential.

negligible alteration

Stresses the insignificance of the change or modification.

subtle shift

Focuses on the delicate and understated nature of the change.

technical knockout

Indicates a minor advantage over something.

modest divergence

Implies a gentle move away from a standard or expected path.

slight departure

Highlights a small change that is noticeable.

minimal variation

Expresses that the variation is only at a minimal level.

limited divergence

Stresses that the movement of difference is limited.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor deviation" to describe a small difference from a standard or expected result. For example, "The experiment showed a "minor deviation" from the predicted outcome".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "minor deviation"?

Similar phrases include "slight variance", "small discrepancy", or "marginal difference". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always acceptable to have a "minor deviation"?

Not necessarily. Even a "minor deviation" can be important depending on the context. In some fields, such as medicine or engineering, even small differences can have significant consequences. Always evaluate the impact in your context.

What's the difference between a "minor deviation" and a major one?

A "minor deviation" signifies a small, often insignificant difference, whereas a major deviation indicates a substantial difference that could lead to more significant issues or consequences. Consider the magnitude of impact when deciding which term to use.