of no consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

"of no consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unimportant or insignificant. For example: "The mistakes I made in the report were of no consequence; I still received a positive review from my boss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They are of no consequence.

Independent

The sauce is of no consequence.

The New Yorker

Taste was of no consequence.

The New Yorker

But, after all, it's of no consequence.

The New Yorker

"It's of no consequence," he replied.

The Guardian

He was of a caste of no consequence.

The Guardian - Books

So don't squander them on matters of no consequence.

The New Yorker

My relationship to Britain is of no consequence".

Independent

The school he went to is of no consequence".

Independent

But it is even more foolish to dismiss the march as an event of no consequence.

The Guardian - Opinion

A government spokesman said the court's decision was "of no consequence".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of no consequence" to downplay the importance of an event or detail, especially when contrasting it with something more significant. For instance, "The delay was unfortunate, but ultimately of no consequence to the project's success."

Common error

While grammatically sound, "of no consequence" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler phrases like "not a big deal" or "doesn't matter" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of no consequence" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes a noun or situation as being unimportant, insignificant, or having no effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various writing contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of no consequence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something is unimportant or insignificant. As Ludwig AI states, it’s appropriate for various writing contexts, although it leans towards a neutral to formal register. It is very common in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, remember to consider your audience and context, opting for simpler alternatives in informal settings. Be sure to use "of no consequence" when you want to downplay an event or detail, particularly when contrasting it with a more significant one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not consequential

Direct synonym using a different word form.

unimportant

Single-word adjective, simpler and more direct.

insignificant

Similar to 'unimportant' but can imply a smaller degree of impact.

irrelevant

Implies a lack of connection or pertinence to the matter at hand.

of little importance

More verbose, emphasizes lack of significance.

immaterial

More formal and suggests something doesn't affect the outcome.

of minor importance

Emphasizes the slightly low relevance.

beside the point

Idiomatic expression indicating something is off-topic or not relevant.

not a big deal

Informal, conveys lack of seriousness or concern.

not worth considering

Suggests something is unworthy of attention or thought.

FAQs

How can I use "of no consequence" in a sentence?

You can use "of no consequence" to indicate that something is unimportant or has no significant impact. For example, "The rain was "of no consequence" to our plans, as we had an indoor venue."

What are some alternatives to "of no consequence"?

Some alternatives include "unimportant", "insignificant", or "irrelevant". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "of no consequence" or "not consequential"?

"Of no consequence" and "not consequential" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. "Of no consequence" is a more common and idiomatic expression, while "not consequential" is a more direct and literal phrasing.

When is it appropriate to use "of no consequence"?

It's appropriate to use "of no consequence" in situations where you want to explicitly state that something has little to no impact or importance, especially in formal or neutral contexts.