minor refinement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor refinement" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a small improvement or adjustment made to a product or plan. For example: "We made a few minor refinements to the design of the phone to improve its performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

What we can expect now: pedagogical backtracking, coupled with loud insistence that it's just minor refinement and no harm was done.

The New York Times

While the ductility and interstory drift demands should be acceptable, a minor refinement using the values of Γ1 and α1 determined for the initial design can be done, if such precision is needed.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Another month of discussion and relatively minor refinement followed, during which several attempts were made to alter the Rutledge draft, though few were successful.

Wikipedia

Minor refinement of the intervention, however, is warranted to further improve intervention effectiveness and efficiency.

BMC Health Services Research

However, only one minor refinement, the addition of a question about impact on life roles, was added after the first three interviews.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In addition, findings from qualitative interviews with dentists, child participants and their parents on their views of participation in the Rehearsal Trial [ 15] have been used to inform improvements in the conduct and minor refinement to the design of the trial.

BMC Oral Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And while major pharmaceutical companies claim an average of three new drugs a year, many of them are me-too's or minor refinements of existing therapies.

The New York Times

Completely new designs usually have been programmed on three- to six-year cycles with generally minor refinements appearing during the cycle.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A few years later, the VCR, MP3 player or netbook reaches its final form, with only minor refinements in the years to come.

The New York Times - Tech

Government officials say they can keep the waiting lines down to reasonable lengths because they have made minor refinements to their hardware and procedures, but airport executives are worried.

The New York Times - Travel

When the revised master plan for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center is released this month, it will include scores of changes to Daniel Libeskind's design, both major alterations and minor refinements, many of them never before seen in public.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minor refinement" when you want to indicate a small but necessary improvement has been or needs to be made. It suggests attention to detail without implying a major overhaul.

Common error

Avoid using "minor refinement" to describe changes that are substantial or transformative. This can mislead your audience and undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor refinement" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. It refers to the act or result of making small improvements or adjustments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Unknown

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor refinement" is a common noun phrase used to describe small improvements or adjustments. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including scientific, news, and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the changes you're describing are indeed minor and don't overstate their significance. Consider alternatives like "slight adjustment" or "small tweak" to fine-tune your message. Ludwig's examples and analysis confirm the phrase's broad applicability and its role in conveying precision and attention to detail.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor adjustment

Directly replaces "refinement" with a synonym while maintaining the core meaning.

slight adjustment

Focuses on the act of adjusting something slightly, rather than the result of the adjustment.

small tweak

Emphasizes a small and often quick adjustment.

slight modification

Highlights the alteration aspect but maintains the 'small' magnitude.

minimal fine-tuning

Emphasizes making small adjustments to optimize performance.

small improvement

Emphasizes the positive change resulting from the refinement.

minimal alteration

Emphasizes the limited extent of the change made.

slight correction

Specifically implies fixing an error or inaccuracy.

slight revision

Indicates a light review and change.

small adaptation

Focuses on adapting something to suit new conditions.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor refinement" to describe small adjustments or improvements made to a plan, design, or process. For example, "After the initial tests, we implemented a few "minor refinements" to the user interface".

What's a good alternative to "minor refinement"?

Alternatives include "slight adjustment", "small tweak", or "minor adjustment" depending on the specific context.

Is "minor refinement" the same as "major overhaul"?

No, "minor refinement" implies small, incremental changes, while "major overhaul" suggests significant and extensive alterations. They are opposites in terms of scale.

Can "minor refinement" apply to abstract concepts?

Yes, "minor refinement" can be used for both tangible items and abstract concepts like strategies, theories, or policies. For example, "The research required a "minor refinement" of the existing methodology".