minor nuisance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor nuisance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant annoyance or inconvenience. Example: "The construction noise outside my apartment is just a minor nuisance, but it doesn't really bother me too much."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Last week Michael Bloomberg, the mayor, scolded some banks for treating robberies as a minor nuisance.

The Economist

Naturally Ella's awful stepsisters have wangled invitations, but they're a minor nuisance.

The New York Times

Because colds are mostly a minor nuisance, drug developers say, people would not be likely to pay for expensive drugs.

The New York Times

For most people, potholes are banal, a minor nuisance, but for a small few they turn out to be catastrophic.

The Guardian

In Washington and Baghdad, American officials treated the first wave of postwar looting as little more than a minor nuisance.

The New York Times

A minor nuisance in the overall context of early 1950s New York, but it had to be dealt with.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Minor nuisance-type transgressions may not warrant full-fledged prosecutions, which could be reserved for more serious misconduct that clearly threatens public safety.

The New York Times

Along with the benefits, there are some minor nuisances.

The New Yorker

But Mr Walker regards such things as fairly minor nuisances.He is more concerned about the drug-traffickers who once tried to run him over.

The Economist

Many firms The Economist included automatically append these sorts of disclaimers to every message sent from their e-mail servers, no matter how brief and trivial the message itself might be.E-mail disclaimers are one of the minor nuisances of modern office life, along with fire drills, annual appraisals and colleagues who keep sneezing loudly.

The Economist

This is important because it speaks to a range of male behaviours that have often been dismissed as minor nuisances – flashing, stealing underwear, making obscene phone calls – but that are all acts men do in order to reassure themselves of their power and potency.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor nuisance", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the issue is indeed small and doesn't significantly impact the overall situation. Overstating the severity can undermine your message.

Common error

Avoid using "minor nuisance" when describing problems that have serious consequences. This can downplay the concerns of those affected and diminish the importance of finding a solution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor nuisance" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "minor" modifies the noun "nuisance". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It is used to describe something that is annoying or inconvenient but not a significant problem.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

18%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Huffington Post

4%

TechCrunch

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor nuisance" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe something that is annoying but not a major problem. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate in various contexts, although slightly more formal settings might benefit from alternative phrasing. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. It serves to downplay the significance of an issue and, when writing, caution should be taken not to use it when describing an event that has serious ramifications. Overall, it is a handy phrase to have in your lexicon when the goal is to convey something is only a slight issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight inconvenience

Replaces 'nuisance' with 'inconvenience', implying a less bothersome disruption.

trivial annoyance

Substitutes 'minor' with 'trivial' and 'nuisance' with 'annoyance', emphasizing insignificance.

small irritation

Uses 'small' instead of 'minor' and 'irritation' for 'nuisance', suggesting a mild form of bother.

petty inconvenience

Replaces 'minor' with 'petty', highlighting the insignificance of the inconvenience.

insignificant problem

Replaces 'nuisance' with 'problem', framing it as a small issue.

negligible disruption

Emphasizes the unimportance of the disruption caused.

fleeting bother

Suggests a short-lived and unimportant disturbance.

passing annoyance

Implies a temporary and not very serious disturbance.

mere inconvenience

Highlights the insignificance of the inconvenience.

trifling matter

Frames the situation as something unimportant and easily dismissed.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor nuisance" to describe something that is slightly annoying but not a major problem. For example, "The occasional traffic jam is just a "minor nuisance" compared to the benefits of living in the city."

What are some alternatives to saying "minor nuisance"?

Instead of "minor nuisance", you could say "slight inconvenience", "trivial annoyance", or "small irritation", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "minor nuisance" in a formal setting?

While "minor nuisance" is generally acceptable, in formal settings, consider using a more professional term like "slight inconvenience" or "minimal disruption" to maintain a higher level of formality.

What's the difference between "minor nuisance" and "major problem"?

"Minor nuisance" refers to a small, easily manageable issue, while "major problem" signifies a significant difficulty that requires serious attention and resources. The key difference lies in the scale and impact of the issue.