minor yet significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor yet significant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that, while not large or major, still holds importance or impact in a particular context. Example: "The changes made to the project were minor yet significant, leading to improved efficiency in our workflow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

By contrast, ratios in levels of other essential metals did not differ significantly between the groups, except in the case of sodium where the difference was of borderline significance (P = 0.047), and manganese, which also showed a minor yet significant decrease.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Thus, H3K4/K27me3 promoters constitute a minor yet significant proportion of promoters in both lineages.

Plosone

More challenging tests such as narrowing beam, horizontal ladder and the swimming symmetry revealed minor yet significant improvement of motor function in rats with the full combination treatment (Fig. 5), with no change in nociceptive function (Fig. 6).

European Journal of Neuroscience

23 In conclusion, this study has shown that two different strains of T. b. brucei resulted in similar metabolic profiles in the mouse, but there were a number of minor, yet significant, quantitative differences.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Of the over 100 volatile compounds described in peach, lactones most likely have the strongest effect on fruit aroma, while esters, terpenoids, and aldehydes have minor, yet significant effects.

BMC Genomics

The second component was largely defined by a panel of cell lines identified previously from gene expression studies as sharing a molecular physiology related to mesenchymal differentiation [ 6], and contained 8.4% of the variance of the gene expression data, thus explaining a minor yet significant amount of the variation in the expression patterns.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Witness the small, yet significant Vietnamese minority.

The Economist

One of the virtues of the small Dahesh Museum, young but with both feet planted in tradition, is its mounting of academic theme and individual shows involving minor yet sometimes significant artists that would be hard to come by elsewhere.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet, p-values cannot cancel out each other; the more significant spot has higher influence and the less significant one has a minor, yet still increasing effect on the overall significance.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

Such a clinical setting makes it possible to highlight the effects of other immunogenetic systems, such as the minor histocompatibility loci, which have a more limited yet significant influence on the outcome of transplantation [ 15].

Genome Medicine

The delay is limited yet significant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minor yet significant" to emphasize that even small changes or details can have a notable impact. This phrase is particularly effective in scientific, technical, or analytical writing where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "minor yet significant" when the impact is truly negligible. Ensure the significance is genuine and can be substantiated with evidence; otherwise, the phrase can sound hyperbolic and undermine credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor yet significant" functions as an adjectival modifier, emphasizing a contrast between the apparent smallness of something and its actual importance. Ludwig AI shows this phrase is used to highlight details or changes that have a surprising degree of impact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minor yet significant" is a useful tool for emphasizing the surprising importance of something that appears small or insignificant. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly found in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the significance is genuine and can be substantiated to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as "small but important" or "slight but meaningful" can be used to convey a similar meaning. Avoiding exaggeration is crucial to maintain the phrase's effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small but important

Emphasizes the importance despite the small size, differing by using "but" instead of "yet".

slight but meaningful

Replaces "minor" with "slight" and "significant" with "meaningful", focusing on the impact and value.

modest yet crucial

Substitutes "minor" with "modest" and "significant" with "crucial", highlighting the essential nature.

limited but considerable

Uses "limited" instead of "minor" and "considerable" instead of "significant", emphasizing the extent of impact.

small yet consequential

Replaces "significant" with "consequential", stressing the importance of the outcome.

seemingly insignificant yet vital

Adds "seemingly insignificant" to contrast with "vital", underlining the unexpected importance.

subtle but noteworthy

Uses "subtle" and "noteworthy" to convey the idea of something being understated yet deserving attention.

marginal but impactful

Combines "marginal" with "impactful", highlighting the surprising effect despite the small scale.

inconspicuous yet influential

Employs "inconspicuous" and "influential" to emphasize the hidden power or effect.

negligible yet substantial

Pairs "negligible" with "substantial" to showcase the unexpected magnitude.

FAQs

How can I use "minor yet significant" in a sentence?

You can use "minor yet significant" to describe something that, while small or not major, still holds importance or impact in a particular context. For example: "The changes made to the project were "minor yet significant", leading to improved efficiency."

What are some alternatives to "minor yet significant"?

Alternatives include "small but important", "slight but meaningful", or "modest yet crucial", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "minor yet significant"?

While seemingly contradictory, "minor yet significant" emphasizes that something small still has a notable impact. The phrase is used to highlight a surprising degree of importance, so it's not necessarily redundant if used appropriately.

What's the difference between "minor yet significant" and "major and significant"?

"Minor yet significant" describes something that is small or not major but has a noticeable effect, whereas "major and significant" describes something that is large or important and has a substantial effect. The former highlights unexpected importance, while the latter emphasizes expected importance.