minutiae

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'minutiae' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to small details or trivia that are often overlooked. For example: "He was an expert in the minutiae of ancient civilizations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As deputy prime minister, she was engaged with voters, plain-speaking and yet passionate about policy minutiae; she was seen as a powerful and honest advocate of social reform.

The Guardian

The author delves into patronising government propaganda, domestic minutiae and statistics, including shocking figures of illegitimate wartime births.

The Guardian - Books

If I were a young Muslim man growing up here and I wasn't too interested in the minutiae of policy, I might still look at you and think, 'this guy is sticking up for me.

The Guardian

Musicians already spend our days juggling music-making with the minutiae of tour-booking, dusting off our codpieces and our back catalogues, and trying to explain our lives, souls and financial decisions to our contemporaries and – more importantly – to our fans, who trust and support us because of the transparency for which we will be criticized.

The Guardian - Opinion

Few of his celebrated lyrics are cited, and then usually in connection with an infatuation, of which there were many.Mr Binyon's focus instead is on the minutiae of the day-to-day life of the poet, who does indeed emerge here as a rounded and complicated human being.

The Economist

Its chief executive, Jack Welch, felt that the department's 200 or more senior executives were too involved with financial minutiae and not enough with new businesses and visionary markets.

The Economist

Elsewhere in America, and in Europe, investors are obsessed by the minutiae of business plans, however nebulous their end-products.

The Economist

The intelligence dossier the government published in the run-up to war had implied they would.That Mr Howard should concern himself with such minutiae shows how politically toxic the issue remains.

The Economist

Its owner, Rupert Murdoch, was more blunt, advising Mr Romney via Twitter to sack his campaign team and hire "some real pros".It is true that Mr Romney's team has somehow allowed the coverage of the race over the past two weeks to focus almost exclusively on the minutiae of his personal finances and past employment.

The Economist

Lectures and debates are regularly organised in the prison yards.Turned into a museum, the prison cells tell tales of human tragedy, driving home the minutiae of life behind bars.

The Economist

Add to that the $350 fee for professional appraisal of our house, the $221 for specialised help from an expert accountant and the hours spent on minutiae like cataloguing household furniture, estimating the value of used dresses, determining when my beloved "established legal residence" in our state and getting an estimate of the resale value of my battered pickup truck.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minutiae" when you want to emphasize the focus on very small, precise, or trivial details, often in a context where these details are either crucial or, conversely, excessively scrutinized.

Common error

Avoid using "minutiae" to describe details that are already understood as being minor or insignificant. This can make your writing sound redundant or pretentious. Instead, reserve "minutiae" for contexts where the level of detail is surprisingly granular or unexpectedly important.

Linguistic Context

The word "minutiae" functions primarily as a noun, typically in the plural form, referring to the small, precise, or trivial details of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. Examples show it used in contexts ranging from policy to personal finance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minutiae" refers to the small, often trivial, details of something. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "details" or "particulars" exist, "minutiae" emphasizes a focus on the granular or unexpectedly important aspects of these details. Use it to highlight the importance or, conversely, the triviality of focusing on very small details. Avoid using "minutiae" when the smallness of the details is already apparent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fine details

This alternative emphasizes the precision and refinement of the details being considered.

trivial details

This alternative suggests that the details are unimportant or insignificant.

minor points

This alternative highlights the relative unimportance of the details.

small particulars

This option emphasizes the individual and specific nature of the details.

petty details

This alternative implies that the details are not only unimportant but also annoying or bothersome.

insignificant aspects

This alternative focuses on the lack of importance or consequence of the details.

technicalities

This option suggests the details are related to rules, procedures, or specialized knowledge.

fine points

This alternative emphasizes the subtlety and nuance of the details.

nitpicking

This alternative conveys an excessive focus on finding fault with small details.

itty-bitty details

This alternative emphasizes the small size and unimportance of the details in a more informal way.

FAQs

How to use "minutiae" in a sentence?

You can use "minutiae" to refer to the small, often trivial details of something. For example, "The report delved into the minutiae of the budget."

What can I say instead of "minutiae"?

You can use alternatives like "details", "particulars", or "specifics" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "minutiae" or "minutia"?

"Minutiae" is the plural form, while "minutia" is the singular form. Use "minutiae" when referring to multiple small details and "minutia" when referring to a single detail.

What's the difference between "minutiae" and "technicalities"?

"Minutiae" refers to small, often unimportant details in general, while "technicalities" specifically refers to details relating to rules, procedures, or specialized knowledge.