minor technicality

USAGE SUMMARY

"minor technicality" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small, unimportant detail or issue within a larger context or situation. Here is an example: "While the contract was overall satisfactory, there was one minor technicality that needed to be addressed before it could be finalized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

In 1975, a court disqualified her from holding office for a minor technicality in election expenditure.

The Economist

The general sounded unperturbed, as if confronted by a minor technicality.

The New York Times

Market observers said the last-minute hitch could be due to a minor technicality, or something more serious.

The Guardian

While negotiations to install the former Málaga coach as Roberto Mancini's successor are proceeding smoothly a minor technicality slowed progress.

The Guardian - Sport

When reached by phone Monday, before the N.C.A.A.'s announcement, Rhodes said he believed the N.C.A.A. had burned him on a minor technicality.

The New York Times - Sports

The Bulgarian environment and waters minister, Nona Karadzhova, has yet to endorse it — the environmental impact assessment was returned for second approval because of a minor technicality — but its passage is virtually assured.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The inescapable conclusion is that the S.E.C. is letting Moody's and S.& P. officials walk free while pursuing Mr. Egan on minor technicalities.

The New York Times

He said other laws are being invalidated on minor technicalities, such as arriving at the county executive's office a few minutes after county-imposed deadlines.

The New York Times

There is readon to believe that during the campaign a good many voters thought the Pres., having withdrawn all ground-combat troops, had fulfilled his promises to bring the war to and end & that the discussions between Henry Kissinger and the representatives of the two Vietnams were just settling minor technicalities.

The New Yorker

But, in the years that followed, Sarbanes-Oxley proved largely ineffective, not least because judges appointed to key administrative positions by President George W. Bush interpreted it narrowly, dismissing hundreds of cases on minor technicalities and ruling against the overwhelming majority of employees who submitted grievances.

The New Yorker

As the state system works to deal with facilities that are ​overcapacity and ​court orders to decrease its inmate population, it's come up with a prison realignment plan that incorporates "​flash incarceration" tactics, utilizing county jails to hold prison parolees who get sent back for minor technicalities.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minor technicality" to downplay potential concerns or obstacles, assuring your audience that the issue is not significant. This can be useful in reports, presentations, or everyday communication.

Common error

Avoid using "minor technicality" when the issue at hand has significant consequences. Ensure that the adjective "minor" accurately reflects the impact of the technicality to maintain credibility and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor technicality" functions as a noun phrase, where "minor" modifies the noun "technicality". It describes a specific type of technicality, indicating its relative insignificance. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minor technicality" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, primarily found in news and media contexts. It serves to minimize the importance of a technical issue, assuring audiences that the matter is not critical. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage. When using the phrase, it's important to accurately reflect the issue's impact to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as "trivial detail" or "insignificant detail" can be employed for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trivial detail

Replaces "technicality" with "detail", emphasizing the insignificance of the issue.

insignificant detail

Highlights the lack of importance of the detail, similar to "minor".

small detail

Uses "small" as a direct synonym for "minor", keeping the meaning closely aligned.

slight complication

Shifts the focus to the problematic aspect while maintaining its small scale.

minor detail

Slightly more common, but conveys similar meaning.

small procedural issue

Replaces "technicality" with a more specific term, "procedural issue", for clarity.

inconsequential matter

Emphasizes the lack of consequence or importance of the issue.

petty formality

Highlights the trivial nature of the formality.

trifling matter

Uses a less common word, "trifling", to stress the insignificance.

negligible technical issue

More descriptive, specifying that the technical issue is negligible.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor technicality" to describe a small, unimportant detail or issue within a larger context. For example: "The deal was finalized despite a "minor technicality" in the contract."

What is a good substitute for "minor technicality"?

Alternatives to "minor technicality" include "trivial detail", "insignificant detail", or "small detail", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "minor technicality" in formal writing?

Yes, "minor technicality" can be used in formal writing, especially when it's important to acknowledge an issue while downplaying its severity. However, ensure that the issue truly is minor to avoid appearing dismissive or misleading.

What's the difference between "minor technicality" and "major technicality"?

"Minor technicality" refers to a small, insignificant detail or issue, while "major technicality" would imply a significant and potentially problematic issue. Using the correct adjective is crucial for accurately conveying the importance of the technicality.