minor factor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor factor" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing elements that have a small or limited impact on a situation or outcome. For example, "While several issues contributed to the problem, the budget was only a minor factor." Alternative expressions include "small factor," "insignificant factor," and "secondary factor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Food, however, was definitely a minor factor in our trip.

The New York Times - Travel

Voyeurism was therefore not a minor factor in the foment of revolution.

The New York Times - Arts

Let me give you a quick explanation of why I think it's a fairly minor factor.

The New York Times

Teams need big men, and age sometimes becomes just a minor factor.

The New York Times - Sports

Weather seems to be a minor factor in explaining these deaths.

The Guardian

The Bush administration had said biofuels were a minor factor in rising food costs.

The New York Times

PAGE 1 QUESTIONING ETHANOL The Bush administration's position has been that biofuels are a minor factor in rising food costs.

The New York Times

The Weinstein Company has been a relatively minor factor in the film industry since it was founded.

The New York Times

The flow of asylum seekers is only a minor factor in the growth of migration to Britain.

The Guardian

The more pessimistic view -- which I find more plausible -- is that competition for talent is a minor factor.

The New York Times - Magazine

PAGE 1 The Bush administration's position has been that biofuels are a minor factor in rising food costs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific or technical writing, pair it with specific data or qualitative comparisons to justify why the factor is considered 'minor'.

Common error

Do not use "minor factor" if the element actually has no impact at all. In such cases, use a more precise term like "non-factor" or "irrelevant variable". Using 'minor' implies some level of influence exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor factor" functions as a noun phrase where 'minor' acts as an attributive adjective modifying the head noun 'factor'. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used as a subject complement (e.g., 'it was a "minor factor"') or as part of a prepositional phrase to qualify the cause of an event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "minor factor" is a robust and versatile phrase used across high-quality English sources to denote secondary importance within a causal framework. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it is especially favored by journalists at The New York Times and researchers in scientific journals to balance their arguments. Whether discussing global economics, sports performance or chemical reactions, the phrase serves as a precise tool for categorization. It is grammatically standard and fits seamlessly into professional, academic and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small factor

Uses a more basic adjective, making it slightly more informal or direct

insignificant factor

Stronger emphasis on the lack of importance or impact

secondary factor

Implies a hierarchy where this element follows a primary one

marginal factor

Suggests the factor is on the edge of relevance

trivial factor

Implies the factor is so small it is almost not worth mentioning

lesser factor

Requires a comparative context against a greater factor

incidental factor

Suggests the factor occurs by chance or as a side effect

negligible factor

Indicates the factor is so small it can be ignored in calculations

limited factor

Focuses on the restricted scope or influence of the element

contributing factor

Acknowledges a role without specifying the size, often requiring a modifier like 'small'

FAQs

How do I use "minor factor" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject complement or an object, for example: "Economic sanctions were only a "minor factor" in the regime's collapse compared to internal unrest."

What is the opposite of a "minor factor"?

The most common antonym is a "major factor", but you could also use "decisive factor" or "primary driver" for stronger emphasis.

Is "minor factor" formal enough for a research paper?

Yes, it is widely used in academic and scientific literature to categorize variables, as seen in publications from "ScienceDirect" and "PlosOne".

Can I say "a minor factor of"?

Usually, the phrase is followed by the preposition 'in'. For example, you would say a ""minor factor" in the decision" rather than 'of the decision'.