petty appeals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "petty appeals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe minor or trivial requests or claims that may not hold significant weight or importance. Example: "The committee dismissed the petty appeals from the disgruntled members, focusing instead on the more pressing issues at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The president should have directed the Justice Department to stop taking stupid points and petty appeals".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Having been selected for Hawthorn's VFL side, The Box Hill Hawks, despite failing to meet the minimum games criteria to take his place, this week McEvoy was at the centre of an ugly and quite petty protest appeal by Box Hill's opponents Williamstown, who feel as though McEvoy should be barred from the upcoming VFL preliminary final between the two sides.

The Guardian - Sport

A 1986 BBC drama King of the Ghetto, written by Farrukh Dhondy (and available on You Tube), explored an intricate world of shifting alliances in which youthful activists, iffy businessmen, Labour factionalism, petty crooks, the appeal of Islam and catalysing outsiders all played parts.

The Guardian

Those convicted of similar schemes who had been charged with petty larceny can now appeal those decisions.

The New York Times

"Rather than addressing narrow interests and petty concerns, politicians should appeal to the general population and the greater good," says Traag.

MIT Technology Review

It also may act as an appeals court for petty sessions courts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It doesn't seem to matter if you're a frat boy, a French high school student, a petty criminal or a federal appeals court judge," Bishop writes.

The New York Times - Books

A federal appeals court has upheld the petty misdemeanor arrest of an Albuquerque student accused of repeatedly disrupting his middle-school class with loud burps.

The Guardian

And on February 9th he appealed for both sides to transcend "petty politics" and reach for compromise.Will they?

The Economist

Petty thought a car with the Yankees' logo would appeal to fans in the New York area who might not be otherwise interested in auto racing.

The New York Times - Sports

Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said Mr Trump's appeal for unity, after a year of "divisive actions, petty insults and disgraceful race-baiting... ring hollow".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "petty appeals" to dismiss arguments or requests that are insignificant and waste time. This can streamline discussions and decision-making processes.

Common error

Avoid using "petty appeals" when addressing significant concerns. Mislabeling important issues as trivial undermines credibility and can lead to unresolved problems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "petty appeals" functions as a noun phrase, where "petty" modifies the noun "appeals". The word "petty" serves to diminish or qualify the significance of the "appeals", framing them as minor or trivial. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Sport

8%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "petty appeals" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe minor or insignificant requests or claims. Though its usage is relatively rare, as shown by Ludwig, it appears in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the trivial nature of the appeals to avoid misrepresenting important issues. Consider related phrases like "trivial complaints" or "minor grievances" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

petty grievances

Replaces "appeals" with a synonym that suggests a cause for complaint but on a small scale.

petty claims

Replaces appeals with the word claims

trivial complaints

Focuses on the insignificance of the complaints.

minor grievances

Highlights the small scale and insignificance of the grievances.

insignificant claims

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the claims.

frivolous lawsuits

Indicates lawsuits that lack merit or seriousness.

trifling matters for review

Focuses on unimportant topics needing assessment.

inconsequential requests

Highlights requests that are of little to no consequence.

small-minded objections

Suggests that the objections come from a narrow perspective or are based on unimportant factors.

nitpicking requests

This term indicates requests that focus on very small or unimportant details.

FAQs

How can I incorporate "petty appeals" into a sentence?

You can use "petty appeals" to describe minor or insignificant requests or claims, such as, "The committee dismissed the "petty appeals" from disgruntled members, focusing instead on the more pressing issues at hand."

What are some alternatives to "petty appeals"?

Alternatives include "trivial complaints", "minor grievances", or "insignificant claims" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "petty appeals"?

It is appropriate when you want to dismiss arguments or requests that are insignificant and considered a waste of time, or if you want to describe a legal process based on things which aren't very important.

What's the difference between "petty appeals" and "legitimate grievances"?

"Petty appeals" refer to minor, often trivial, complaints or requests that lack significant merit. "Legitimate grievances", on the other hand, are valid and substantial complaints that warrant attention and resolution.