of seemingly small

USAGE SUMMARY

"of seemingly small" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that appears to be insignificant or minor. For example: "The impact of seemingly small decisions can have far-reaching consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It is just this kind of seemingly small problem that could unravel the entire political fabric of Iraq.

The New York Times

David S. Landes, a distinguished Harvard scholar of economic history, saw tidal movements in the rise of seemingly small things.

The New York Times

Beyond the major infrastructure changes, the report says that a series of seemingly small changes could have a striking impact.

The New York Times

Bihar's turnaround illustrates how a handful of seemingly small changes can yield big results in India's most impoverished and badly governed regions.

The New York Times

Above all, the report shows how a series of seemingly small errors on what should have been a routine flight cascaded into the fatal shooting.

The New York Times

Among common precipitants are parental divorce, breakup with a boyfriend or any number of seemingly small pressures that become the straw that breaks a girl's back.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

So far they've found tentative evidence that a transaction tax may stabilize currency markets, but also that the outcome has a surprising sensitivity to seemingly small details of market mechanics — on precisely how, for example, the market matches buyers and sellers.

The New York Times

In our study, we used bulks composed of a seemingly small number of individuals; 14 and 13 homozygous F3 recombinant lines per bulk.

BMC Plant Biology

And there is good reason tobelieve the pace of incremental innovation in the biologics space and the therapeutic importance of even seemingly small changes made to existing protein drugs could dwarf the kinds of benefits seen from tweaks made to small molecules.

Forbes

Darely and Batson's Good Samaritan experiment offers the classic demonstration of how seemingly small variables can overwhelm the prosocial influences of religious commitments, even when religion is strongly cued (Darley and Batson 1973; Norenzayan and Shariff 2008).

Biology and Philosophy

The impact of that seemingly small gap is enormous.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of seemingly small" to introduce a concept that initially appears insignificant but later proves to have a substantial impact or hidden importance.

Common error

Avoid dismissing something as unimportant simply because it seems small. The phrase "of seemingly small" is most effective when used to set up a contrast between initial perception and eventual significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of seemingly small" functions as a prepositional modifier, typically used to qualify a noun or noun phrase. It suggests that the modified element possesses an initially perceived attribute of being minor or insignificant. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of seemingly small" serves as a valuable tool for highlighting the potential for unexpected significance in seemingly minor things. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While not exceedingly common, its purpose is to create contrast and emphasize the impact of something that might initially be overlooked. Remember to use it effectively to introduce elements of surprise or irony, showcasing the importance of not judging things solely by their initial appearance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of seemingly inconsequential

Substitutes "small" with "inconsequential", emphasizing the lack of significant impact.

of apparently minor

Replaces "seemingly" with "apparently" and "small" with "minor", emphasizing the outward appearance of insignificance.

of apparently negligible

Uses "apparently" and "negligible" to suggest that something seems too small to matter.

of outwardly insignificant

Uses "outwardly" to stress the external perception of insignificance.

of apparently trivial

Combines "apparently" and "trivial" for a similar meaning, focusing on the perceived unimportance.

of ostensibly minor

Combines "ostensibly" with "minor" to express the idea of something being seemingly less important.

of ostensibly trivial

Employs "ostensibly" and "trivial" to convey a sense of something unimportant on the surface.

of seemingly trifling

Replaces "small" with "trifling", indicating a lack of worth or importance.

of superficially unimportant

Stresses the perceived lack of importance upon first glance.

of superficially negligible

Highlights the lack of importance when viewed superficially.

FAQs

How can I use "of seemingly small" in a sentence?

Use "of seemingly small" to describe something that appears insignificant but has a greater impact or importance than initially perceived. For instance, "The consequences "of seemingly small actions" can be far-reaching".

What are some alternatives to "of seemingly small"?

Alternatives include "of apparently minor", "of outwardly insignificant", or "of ostensibly trivial", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "of seemingly small"?

While grammatically correct, "of seemingly small" might be inappropriate if the thing you're describing is genuinely, definitively insignificant. Ensure there's an element of surprise or contrast in its eventual impact.

What's the difference between "of seemingly small" and "of actually small"?

"Of seemingly small" suggests that something only appears small, implying a hidden significance. "Of actually small" indicates that something is small in reality, with no implication of hidden importance.