small access to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small access to" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to describe limited or minimal access to something. Example: "The remote village has small access to modern healthcare facilities."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

While the number of employees affected by the ruling may be small, access to health care makes a world of difference for them.

The New York Times

In turn, this created the impetus for index-tracking funds, which gave investors large and small access to a low-cost, well-diversified portfolio.The holy grail is to create a passive portfolio that achieves the same cost savings as traditional trackers while improving on the performance of a value-weighted index.

The Economist

Semantics3 is able to give retailers, big and small, access to large amounts of normalized, and extracted data that they would otherwise have to pay massive amounts of money for.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"In those days, we had many plantations and small farmers had little access to land.

The Guardian

The highway intersects a small access road to the Coast Guard station, before continuing northward to its northern terminus, the main entrance gate to the Coast Guard facility.

Wikipedia

It plans to offer small investors access to its market and cost savings later this year.

The New York Times

Three broad types of funds give small investors access to a mix of companies based overseas.

The New York Times

Denying small businesses access to credit is having "spiraling" effect on the economy, she added.

The New York Times

Mr. Geithner will testify before the House Small Business Committee about small businesses' access to capital and credit (Wednesday).

The New York Times

Kiva.org, and Visa start a new program that will extend small business access to microloans in American cities.

The New York Times

This entails such unexceptionable measures as investing in infrastructure and research and development and giving small enterprises access to credit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "small access to", ensure the context clearly indicates that the access is limited in scope or amount. Consider if alternatives like "limited" or "restricted" access might be more appropriate for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "small access to" when the access is nonexistent or negligible. In such cases, phrases like "no access to" or "virtually no access to" are more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small access to" primarily functions as a descriptor indicating a limited or restricted ability to obtain or use something. As noted by Ludwig AI, it may sound awkward and is not commonly used. However, in contexts requiring emphasis on the limited nature of access, it can be appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "small access to" describes a limited or restricted ability to obtain or use something. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase isn't the most common, but grammatically sound, thus it's acceptable in contexts where emphasizing the limitation is key. Alternatives like "limited access to" or "restricted access to" are often clearer and more common choices. The usage appears across various sources, including news, wikis, and scientific publications, suggesting a broad applicability, though its rarity should prompt careful consideration of more conventional phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited access to

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the access.

restricted access to

Highlights the constraints placed on access.

modest access to

Implies a moderate degree of availability.

reduced access to

Suggests a decrease in the amount of access.

scarce access to

Indicates a very limited supply or availability.

minimal access to

Emphasizes the extremely low level of access.

infrequent access to

Focuses on the rare occurrence of access.

occasional access to

Suggests access is only available from time to time.

partial access to

Highlights that only a portion is accessible.

narrow access to

Emphasizes the limited scope or extent of the access.

FAQs

What does "small access to" mean?

The phrase "small access to" indicates that the ability or opportunity to use or obtain something is limited. It suggests a restricted or minimal level of access.

What are some alternatives to "small access to"?

You can use alternatives such as "limited access to", "restricted access to", or "minimal access to" depending on the context and desired nuance.

Is it grammatically correct to say "small access to"?

Yes, it is grammatically acceptable, although not the most common phrasing. Phrases like "limited access to" are generally preferred for better clarity and flow.

How does "small access to" differ from "easy access to"?

"Small access to" implies difficulty or limitations in obtaining something, whereas "easy access to" suggests that something is readily and conveniently available.