minor doubts

USAGE SUMMARY

'minor doubts' is an acceptable and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe reservations that someone may have about something that is generally accepted. For example, "Despite having minor doubts about the plan, they decided to go ahead with it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Those with minor doubts make little progress.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

England are due to go into the second Test looking to play an unchanged team, with the all-rounder Ben Stokes their only minor doubt.

The Guardian - Sport

You can see glimmers of the hungry words to "Some People" from "Gypsy" in "Class," Gene's hymn to upward mobility, a song notable for underpinning brassy affirmation with minor-key doubts.

The New York Times

The lady suffers minor pangs of doubt,.

The New Yorker

He strongly favoured the minor mode, no doubt partly because of its inherent instability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Snipers are a part of every war, but they play an ignoble and usually minor role — I doubt that they ever seriously affect the outcome of a battle.

The New Yorker

There are some doubts, however minor, about Rivera and he knows it.

The New York Times - Sports

And besides, those doubts are minor and the opening night was a huge success.

The Guardian - Sport

It was an easy and no doubt gratifying minor task for Streicher to deprive him of it.

The New Yorker

There is no doubt that minor offspring of mentally ill parents experience a high level of burden (Krautgartner et al. 2007; Stelling et al. 2008) and are at a high risk for developing social, emotional, and behavioral disorders (Duffy et al. 2014; Maoz et al. 2014).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

There is no longer doubt that minor liver resections can be performed safely at the same setting as resection of a colorectal primary.

Annals of Surgical Oncology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor doubts", ensure the context clarifies the subject and scope of the doubts, preventing ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "minor doubts" when the reservations are actually significant. Choose language that accurately reflects the level of uncertainty or concern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor doubts" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "minor" modifies the noun "doubts". This indicates the existence of uncertainties that are small in scope or importance. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples showing its integration in sentences across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minor doubts" is a common and grammatically correct way to express small reservations or uncertainties. Ludwig AI's analysis of various sources, predominantly from News & Media and Science, highlights its neutral register and broad applicability. While similar to phrases like "slight reservations" and "small uncertainties", it's crucial to ensure the context aligns with the actual degree of uncertainty to avoid overstating or understating the situation. Using "minor doubts" effectively involves clear communication of the subject and scope to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight reservations

Emphasizes the small degree of hesitation or concern.

small uncertainties

Focuses on the limited nature of the uncertainties involved.

minor misgivings

Highlights feelings of unease or apprehension, but only to a small extent.

slight hesitations

Implies a brief pause or reluctance due to small concerns.

small qualms

Indicates minor reservations or second thoughts.

slight suspicions

Suggests minimal levels of mistrust or skepticism.

little worries

Emphasizes the limited impact of the anxieties.

small anxieties

Highlights a small amount of apprehension.

limited skepticism

Focuses on how the doubt is limited.

small reservations

Highlights the size of the doubts.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor doubts" to express that someone has small reservations or uncertainties about something, as in "Despite having minor doubts about the project, she agreed to participate".

What phrases are similar to "minor doubts"?

Alternatives include "slight reservations", "small uncertainties", or "minor misgivings", all indicating a small degree of uncertainty.

Is it better to say "minor doubts" or "major doubts"?

The choice depends on the degree of uncertainty. Use "minor doubts" for small concerns and "major doubts" for significant reservations.

When is it appropriate to express "minor doubts"?

It's appropriate to express "minor doubts" when you want to acknowledge a small degree of uncertainty or hesitation, without necessarily dismissing the idea or plan entirely. The context determines whether expressing these doubts is constructive or detrimental.