quite incidental

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite incidental" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is minor or not of primary importance in a given context. Example: "The error in the report was quite incidental and did not affect the overall findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"But the phones were quite incidental".

The New York Times

The subject that they use is really quite incidental.

The Guardian - Music

It's a pick-up scene and quite incidental to the plot.

The Guardian - Film

You can argue that there are some artists whose sexuality is quite incidental to their work - but it's usually instrumental.

The Guardian - Arts

The medieval repertory, if not quite incidental, is what happened to suit its purposes at the time.

The New York Times - Arts

GIVEN what it takes to create brains, the science is really quite incidental in "AI: Artificial Intelligence", which opened in America on June 29th and premieres in Britain on September 21st.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Penetration of the CNS provides no known benefit to the virus, and is quite possibly an incidental deviation of a normal gastrointestinal infection.

Wikipedia

It is quite evident that this incidental angle of the yarn was inspired by the sinking of the Hampshire with Lord Kitchener.

The New York Times

Professor Lynch again: "If you take the view that the legislation establishing the plebiscite is not in and of itself a law with respect to marriage, but a process whereby the people are merely asked their opinion on a question about marriage, then it may be that the plebiscite itself already relies quite a bit on incidental power rather than the main grant.

The Guardian - Opinion

Taking away these potential associative or semantic contributions in Experiment 3 revealed that size congruency effects persisted without it, but were quite small and, under incidental learning conditions in Experiment 3B, were restricted to the size descriptor.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

"Quite honestly, it was incidental contact," Sarkisian said, adding, "It's unfortunate that he feels that way.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite incidental" to downplay the importance of a detail or factor, ensuring the focus remains on more critical elements. It's effective in formal and neutral registers.

Common error

Avoid using "quite incidental" excessively in formal documents. While grammatically correct, overuse can make writing seem dismissive or undermine the importance of critical points. Opt for stronger adjectives when emphasis is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite incidental" functions as an adverbial modifier that intensifies the adjective "incidental". It is used to qualify the degree to which something is secondary or of minor importance. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

21%

Arts

14%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quite incidental" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, mainly functioning to diminish the importance of a detail or aspect. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness. While relatively uncommon, its usage spans across news, scientific, and arts contexts, though it's less frequent in academic or formal business settings. Use it to downplay factors without fully dismissing them, but be mindful of overuse, especially in contexts that require emphasis. Alternatives like "essentially irrelevant" and "largely immaterial" offer similar nuanced ways to describe something as not being a major or essential part of something else.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essentially irrelevant

Focuses on the lack of relevance or importance.

largely immaterial

Emphasizes the lack of material effect or consequence.

relatively unimportant

Highlights a lower level of importance compared to other aspects.

somewhat peripheral

Suggests a position on the edge or outside the main focus.

hardly significant

Points out the absence of significance or notable impact.

more or less secondary

Indicates a second-tier level of importance.

of minor consequence

Directly addresses the slight level of consequence or impact.

not particularly crucial

Expresses that something lacks critical importance.

scarcely pertinent

Emphasizes a low degree of relevance to the matter at hand.

tangential at best

Suggests a connection that is only lightly or indirectly related.

FAQs

How can I use "quite incidental" in a sentence?

You can use "quite incidental" to describe something that is minor or not essential to the main point. For example, "The cost of the decorations was "relatively unimportant"; it was "hardly significant" compared to the overall budget."

What phrases are similar to "quite incidental"?

Similar phrases include "essentially irrelevant", "largely immaterial", and ""relatively unimportant"". These phrases all convey a sense of something being of little consequence.

Is it appropriate to use "quite incidental" in formal writing?

Yes, "quite incidental" can be used in formal writing, but consider the context. It's suitable when you want to downplay the importance of something without completely dismissing it. If greater emphasis is needed, stronger adjectives may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "incidental" and "quite incidental"?

The addition of "quite" intensifies the sense of something being minor or secondary. While "incidental" suggests something is merely accompanying or not essential, "quite incidental" emphasizes that it is even less significant.