nothing to the point

USAGE SUMMARY

"nothing to the point" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to mean that someone is saying something that is irrelevant or unrelated to the topic being discussed. Example sentence: The speaker kept talking about inconsequential topics, but never said anything to the point.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

When Empty Palm paraphrases Justice Brandeis to the effect that "freedom of speech is not there to protect the speech we love, but the speech we hate," he or she is saying nothing to the point.

The New York Times

Just to come up with a few invariant reasons is nothing to the point.

SEP

There are similarities, yes, but nothing to the point where I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an iPhone 4 and the Infuse 4G.

TechCrunch

Here he mentions Luther's claim in his Assertiones that all the works of the saints are sin, "that free will is mere words," and "that man is justified by faith alone and works are nothing to the point," statements that Erasmus dismisses as "riddles which are on the face of it absurd" (Ep 1384, CWE 10 81).

SEP

Religion offered nothing to the point.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But with the excitement quotient adding nothing to the two points and with street ball giving way to conventional play, will the United States win the game?

The New York Times - Sports

Short-term rates in the United States and many other places pay nothing to the left of the decimal point and not much to the right, either.

The New York Times

It was so sheer that it literally felt like I was wearing nothing… to the point where I became skeptical if a product that disappeared so easily into skin, could really be offering the best protection.

HuffPost

'Time to act' Speaking about living in an era of climate injustice, Axam added: "Those with more than enough are damaging our world blindly in the common cause of development, while those with nothing suffer to the point at which we just cannot see the end of it.

Unicef

An example: Say we posted a picture with an article and discovered that not only was the person in the picture not in the article, but the picture itself had nothing to do with the point of the article.

The New York Times

It's hard not to think of the search for the right techniques as a fuss over nothing – or, more to the point, the cause of added anxiety we're at risk of transmitting to our children.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nothing to the point" to concisely dismiss irrelevant information or arguments, ensuring focus remains on the core issue.

Common error

Avoid using "nothing to the point" aggressively; instead, frame it as a gentle redirection to maintain a constructive dialogue. Overusing it can make you seem dismissive or uninterested in other's people input.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing to the point" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to express that something is irrelevant or unrelated to the current topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The Ludwig examples provide context for its use in dismissing immaterial information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nothing to the point" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to dismiss irrelevant information, as validated by Ludwig AI. While it's not exceedingly common, it appears in various contexts such as news, media, and scientific discussions. Its function is primarily to redirect conversations and keep them focused on the key issues. Though versatile, users should consider the audience and setting to prevent dismissive communication and to maintain constructive dialogue. Remember to consider more polite alternatives when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beside the point

Indicates that something is not pertinent to the matter at hand.

not pertinent

Stresses that something is not relevant to the topic.

off-topic

Indicates a deviation from the current subject of discussion.

irrelevant

Focuses on the lack of relevance of something.

not germane

Highlights that something is not relevant or appropriate.

immaterial

Highlights that something is not important or consequential.

of no consequence

Highlights that something has no importance or effect.

unrelated

Emphasizes the lack of connection to the subject.

without significance

Emphasizes the lack of importance or consequence.

inapplicable

Stresses that something does not apply to the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "nothing to the point" in a sentence?

You can use "nothing to the point" to dismiss irrelevant information. For example: "The speaker kept talking about inconsequential topics, but never said "nothing to the point".

What does "nothing to the point" mean?

It means that something is irrelevant or unrelated to the main topic being discussed.

What can I say instead of "nothing to the point"?

You can use alternatives like "irrelevant", "beside the point", or "immaterial" depending on the context.

Is "nothing to the point" formal or informal?

"Nothing to the point" can be used in both formal and informal settings, but it's important to consider the context and audience. In highly formal situations, consider using a more polite alternative.