of little help

USAGE SUMMARY

'of little help' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is not very useful. For example: "The answer given to me was of little help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was of little help.

The New York Times

Encryption technologies are of little help here.

The New York Times - Books

The skimpy glossary is of little help.

The Economist

My husband was of little help.

The New York Times

School was of little help.

The New York Times

The Chinese were of little help.

The New York Times - Health

The dictionary definitions are of little help.

The Guardian - Opinion

The authorities typically are of little help.

The New York Times

And Government crackdowns are of little help.

The New York Times

Renovation in 2008 has been of little help.

The Guardian

Such tools are of little help in the shower.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "of little help", consider the context and whether a stronger phrase like "useless" or "ineffective" might be more appropriate.

Common error

While "of little help" is generally acceptable, using it repeatedly in formal writing can make your prose sound weak. Vary your language by incorporating stronger synonyms or rephrasing the sentence to emphasize the lack of assistance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of little help" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something or someone provides minimal assistance or is largely ineffective. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "of little help" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something or someone provides minimal assistance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, supported by a multitude of real-world examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist. While versatile, it's important to consider whether a stronger synonym might be more impactful. The phrase sees frequent use in news, scientific, and formal contexts, indicating its broad applicability while retaining a relatively neutral register. If you want to achieve a different effect, alternatives such as "not very helpful" or "virtually useless" may better suit your needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not very helpful

Direct synonym, replacing 'little' with 'very' and restructuring the phrase.

almost no use

A simpler and more direct way of saying something is nearly useless.

scarcely beneficial

Replaces 'help' with 'beneficial' and indicates a minimal positive impact.

virtually useless

Emphasizes the lack of utility more strongly than the original phrase.

hardly effective

Shifts the focus to the effectiveness of something, implying it's not helpful.

offers minimal assistance

More formal and emphasizes the act of providing assistance, though limited.

doesn't provide much assistance

Focuses on the lack of provided support or aid.

not particularly supportive

Highlights the lack of support offered.

of marginal utility

Uses a more technical term 'utility' to express limited usefulness.

substantially ineffective

More formal and stronger emphasis on the lack of effect or impact.

FAQs

How can I use "of little help" in a sentence?

You can use "of little help" to describe something that provides minimal assistance or is not very useful. For example, "The instructions were "of little help" in assembling the furniture."

What are some alternatives to "of little help"?

Alternatives include "not very helpful", "scarcely beneficial", or "virtually useless", depending on the degree of ineffectiveness you want to convey.

Is it better to say "of little help" or "not much help"?

Both phrases are correct, but "of little help" is slightly more formal. The choice depends on the context and your desired tone. "Not much help" is generally more suitable for informal situations.

Can "of little help" be used to describe people?

Yes, you can use "of little help" to describe a person who is unable to provide much assistance. For example, "My husband was "of little help" when I was trying to fix the car."