of minor consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of minor consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not very important or has little impact on the overall situation. Example: "While the details of the report are interesting, they are of minor consequence to the main findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

In Banda Aceh, the measure had proved of minor consequence.

The New York Times

Difficulties with the mechanics of various voting systems are of minor consequence.

The New York Times

Not only are such skirmishes at sea inevitable, but they are also of minor consequence — assuming they are managed shrewdly.

The New York Times

Those acrimonious personal relationships, which were of minor consequence in Washington, now promised to define, and potentially derail, the Confederacy's naval and coastal-defense strategies.

The New York Times

There's one exception: a scene of violence that is more or less a movie in itself, but which is swept under the rug, kept as a notable event that, though widely reported, proves to be of minor consequence.

The New Yorker

Theories on the generation of basaltic magma mainly attribute its origin to the derivation of heat from within peridotite rather than by some outside source such as the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium, which are only of minor consequence.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Uninteresting enigmas, perhaps, but in a game of minor consequences, that and the likelihood of an even contest at least make this match-up interesting.

The Guardian - Sport

The discovery of the Hatto hoax was a minor consequence of the burgeoning use of downloads.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One minor consequence of what happened in Dallas was that any sort of after-office memoir was made impossible.

The Guardian - Books

Many go in and out of jail as a matter of routine, he said, a minor consequence to the lifestyle they live.

HuffPost

The electrophilic attack by MRS5980 is a minor pathway and did not alter GSH levels in liver or liver histology, and thus may be of minor clinical consequence.

Biochemical Pharmacology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of minor consequence" when you want to downplay the significance of a particular event, detail, or factor in a broader context. For example, "While there were some initial setbacks, they proved to be of minor consequence in the long run."

Common error

Avoid using "of minor consequence" too frequently in formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "unimportant" or "insignificant" for a more direct tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of minor consequence" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or clause, indicating that something is not important or significant. It acts as an adjective, providing additional information about the noun's impact. This is consistent with Ludwig's indication that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of minor consequence" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating that something is not very important. As Ludwig confirms, it's a valid phrase suitable for various contexts. While mostly found in news, science, and encyclopedic sources, it can be adapted for academic or general writing. Remember to use it judiciously, as there are several alternatives, such as "of little importance" or "insignificant", that might be more appropriate depending on the desired tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of little importance

Directly replaces "consequence" with "importance", keeping the meaning virtually identical.

of little significance

Substitutes "consequence" with "significance", emphasizing the lack of importance.

of slight importance

Replaces "minor" with "slight", indicating a small degree of importance.

not very important

A more direct and informal way of expressing the lack of importance.

of negligible importance

Emphasizes that the importance is so small that it can be ignored.

inconsequential

A single-word adjective that means "not important or significant".

unimportant

A simpler adjective directly stating the lack of importance.

of secondary importance

Indicates that something is less important than other things.

not a big deal

A very informal way to say something is not important.

of no great moment

A slightly more formal and emphatic way to express insignificance.

FAQs

What does "of minor consequence" mean?

The phrase "of minor consequence" means something is not very important or significant. It implies that the thing being described has little impact or effect on the overall situation.

How can I use "of minor consequence" in a sentence?

You can use "of minor consequence" to downplay the importance of something. For example, "The delay was "of minor consequence" to the project's overall success".

What can I say instead of "of minor consequence"?

You can use alternatives like "of little importance", "unimportant", or "insignificant" depending on the context.

Is "of minor consequence" formal or informal?

"Of minor consequence" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase. While acceptable in most contexts, simpler alternatives might be preferred in very informal settings.