minor discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

"minor discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small or insignificant difference between two things. For example, "Although there was a minor discrepancy in the data, it did not affect the overall results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The predictions agreed with the experimental data with a minor discrepancy acceptable in an engineering view.

Chemical Engineering Journal

The minor discrepancy in CD spectra of these oligoduplexes are not significant for mutational analysis.

Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods

The difference of the edge configuration of the inner graphene nano-ribbon (GNR) also leads to minor discrepancy of these two properties.

Computational Materials Science

PAGE C11 OBITUARIES WILLIS E. LAMB JR., 94 His discovery of a minor discrepancy in quantum theory helped earn him a share of the 1955 Nobel Prize, and led to the rethinking of quantum mechanics.

The New York Times

Roux has quizzed witnesses in minute detail about their testimonies, patiently probing for any contradictions and homing in on any minor discrepancy, sometimes with sarcasm that some observers have found patronising.

The Guardian

We observed a minor discrepancy between the solutions at very early times which originates from the different structures in these two reservoir simulators, IMPEC in UTCOMP and fully implicit in GPAS.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Small inaccuracies escape him, and minor discrepancies don't matter.

The New Yorker

Even if there were minor discrepancies, there was nothing that would change the overall facts".

The New York Times

Texturing compound can be used to cover minor discrepancies and blemishes in a wall surface.

The New York Times

The measured transfer function of the beams agrees with the analytical solutions but minor discrepancies.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

There were minor discrepancies for 7 analytes, and major for 4 analytes.

Clinica Chimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal or official documents, use "minor discrepancy" to downplay small inconsistencies that do not alter the core meaning or validity of the document.

Common error

Avoid using "minor discrepancy" when the difference significantly affects the outcome or interpretation. A "major discrepancy" indicates a substantial and consequential difference, whereas a "minor discrepancy" is trivial and inconsequential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, where "minor" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "discrepancy". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase to describe a small difference. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts to point out these small differences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

79%

News & Media

18%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor discrepancy" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that indicates a small, often insignificant, difference or inconsistency. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in scientific and journalistic writing. While alternatives like "slight inconsistency" or "small difference" exist, "minor discrepancy" offers a specific nuance suitable for formal communication. Remember to reserve this phrase for truly minor differences, and use "major discrepancy" when the inconsistency is significant. Its frequent appearances in reputable sources such as the New York Times, and scientific publications, confirm its validity and utility in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight inconsistency

This alternative emphasizes the lack of perfect alignment or agreement, focusing on the inconsistency rather than the difference.

small difference

This alternative uses more general terms to describe the variance, suitable for less formal contexts.

negligible variation

This alternative highlights that the difference is so small that it's practically insignificant.

trivial deviation

This phrase suggests the difference is unimportant or easily overlooked.

insignificant divergence

This alternative emphasizes that the separation or departure from a standard is not meaningful.

marginal difference

This alternative suggests the difference is at the edge of being noticeable or important.

slight variance

This is a more formal way of saying 'small difference', often used in statistical or technical contexts.

small irregularity

This alternative highlights the difference as an anomaly or departure from what is normal or expected.

modest disparity

This option emphasizes a lack of equality or similarity that is only small in scale.

subtle distinction

This alternative suggests the difference is so fine that it requires careful observation to detect.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor discrepancy" to point out a small difference that doesn't significantly impact the overall outcome. For example, "There was a "minor discrepancy" between the predicted and actual results, but it wasn't statistically significant."

What are some alternatives to "minor discrepancy"?

Alternatives include "slight inconsistency", "small difference", or "negligible variation", depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "minor discrepancy" versus "major discrepancy"?

"Minor discrepancy" is appropriate when the difference is small and inconsequential, while "major discrepancy" is used when the difference is significant and could lead to different conclusions or actions.

What does it mean when someone says there's a "minor discrepancy" in the data?

It means there's a small difference or inconsistency in the data that is not expected to significantly affect the interpretation or conclusions drawn from the data. Often, such discrepancies are explained or accounted for in the analysis.