simply a mere

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "simply a mere" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is only what it appears to be, often downplaying its significance. Example: "The project was simply a mere suggestion, not a requirement for the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In other words: the European Union was never simply a mere economic community.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

And if a canon, say, had alerted him to the seriousness of that omission he might have simply designated a mere vicar to attend in his stead.

The New Yorker

Subsequently it has no more claim to reality than spatiality, for it too simply implicates a mere form of perception.

SEP

So the possibility of a relevant global property is simply that: a mere possibility, and as such it gets dealt with in the way that all unknown morally significant properties, both rightmaking and wrongmaking, and both local and global, are dealt with in, for example, the logical probability version of the evidential argument from evil set out above in section 3.5.

SEP

These findings imply that behavioral properties of stepping onto a stopped escalator do not simply reflect a mere aftereffect of motor-specific adaptation [9] or of sensory association adaptation [10], or an aftereffect of "short-term" adaptation specific to a moving escalator as in the mobile sled task in [3] [5].

Plosone

A Daumier lithograph showing a very fat woman in a crinoline climbing into an omnibus bore no dialogue, but simply the caption, "A mere nothing, and the bus is full".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Simply put, in a mere 25 years our basic forms of interpersonal communication and interaction have been drastically reformatted, and those who prefer the old ways of mostly face-to-face contact often feel left out and unappreciated.

Huffington Post

The whole point of the memo is that it is folly to simply treat this as a mere criminal case, much as we might wish things were so simple".

The New York Times

The limescale should simply fall away with a mere nudge or wipe.

WikiHow

By enabling us to consume conspicuously and by introducing café culture to the birthplace of the industrial revolution, it seemed for a while that things could only get better, but of course this proved to be a mere sticking plaster, simply delaying the crisis that loomed on the horizon.

The Guardian

But it seems safe to say that the short-lived government shutdown of January, 2018, is unlikely to be long remembered, or even much debated, if only because the resolution of the fight was simply to postpone it for a mere two weeks.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "simply a mere" sparingly, as its effect can be perceived as redundant. Consider whether "simply a" or "a mere" would suffice to convey the intended meaning more concisely.

Common error

Avoid using "simply a mere" when a single adjective would be more effective. For example, instead of saying "It was simply a mere suggestion", consider "It was just a suggestion" or "It was a mere suggestion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "simply a mere" functions as an intensifier used to downplay the significance of something. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, this highlights or emphasizes something being basic or insignificant. It suggests a lack of importance or complexity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "simply a mere" serves to diminish the importance of something, emphasizing its basic or insignificant nature. While grammatically correct, its use can be perceived as redundant. As Ludwig AI confirms, using "simply a" or "a mere" alone might be a more concise way to express the intended meaning. Its usage spans across news, scientific, and general contexts, suggesting a neutral register. When writing, it's best to use it sparingly and consider alternative phrases like "just a simple" or "only a trivial" to avoid redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely a simple

Swaps the order and uses 'simple' instead of 'mere', slightly altering the emphasis.

just a trivial

Replaces both words to highlight insignificance or lack of importance.

only a basic

Emphasizes the fundamental and uncomplicated nature of something.

purely a nominal

Indicates something exists in name only, lacking real substance or effect.

scarcely a significant

Highlights that something is barely noticeable or important.

hardly an important

Similar to 'scarcely', but with a slightly stronger sense of disbelief or surprise.

barely a consequential

Underscores the minimal impact or outcome of something.

plainly an insignificant

Directly states that something is not worthy of attention or consideration.

simply an elementary

Suggests something is at a very early or uncomplicated stage.

merely a rudimentary

Highlights the basic, undeveloped nature of something, implying a lack of sophistication.

FAQs

What does "simply a mere" mean?

The phrase "simply a mere" emphasizes that something is only what it appears to be, often downplaying its significance or complexity. It suggests that something is basic, unimportant, or not worthy of much consideration.

Is it redundant to say "simply a mere"?

Yes, "simply a mere" can be considered redundant because "simply" and "mere" both serve to diminish the importance of something. While grammatically correct, using both words together may not be the most concise way to express the idea. Alternatives like "just a simple" or "only a trivial" may be clearer.

How can I use "simply a mere" in a sentence?

You can use "simply a mere" to describe something as being basic, insignificant, or not complex. For example: "The project was simply a mere suggestion, not a requirement for the team."

What are some alternatives to "simply a mere"?

Some alternatives to "simply a mere" include "merely a simple", "just a trivial", or "only a basic", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.