small allowance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small allowance" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a limited amount of money or resources allocated for a specific purpose. For example, "She received a small allowance from her parents each week." Alternative expressions include "modest stipend" and "limited budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

On the advice of the Inspector General Slatin Pasha, Abd al-Rahman was constantly watched in the early years of British rule, was given a very small allowance and was not allowed to call himself Imam or the Mahdi.

Wikipedia

Roache will now have to survive on a small allowance.

The Guardian

Later, he used the small allowance he continued to draw to maintain himself in Vienna.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Religious groups have pointed this out, and so a small allowance has been made.

The Guardian

Transport, accommodation, food and medical insurance are all covered, as well as a small allowance.

The Guardian

Her parents seem to have been ridiculously supportive, giving her a small allowance so she could concentrate on music.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

By 1952, the two women were left on their own, living on small allowances, in the family's mansion, Grey Gardens, in East Hampton.

The New Yorker

"My parents weren't particularly sophisticated about finances, but all of us had small allowances beginning when we started school," he said.

The New York Times

I tend to make small allowances when I can – for instance, cutting down on carbs by taking one layer of bread off a sandwich.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

From Wall Street power brokers to young children with small allowances, people across the metropolitan area and beyond have given more than $5 million this year to The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund, which supports seven of the city's oldest and most respected social service organizations.

The New York Times

Instead of giving kids small allowances for movies and candy, give them larger ones and have them pay for things like clothes and transportation.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical or scientific writing, apply the phrase to describe a restricted margin of error or a permitted deviation in measurements.

Common error

Writers sometimes use the phrase in technical contexts where "tolerance" or "margin" would be more precise. Conversely, in a financial context, do not use it to describe a full salary; an "allowance" is usually a supplement or a restricted grant for specific needs.

Linguistic Context

In English grammar, "small allowance" functions as a noun phrase composed of the quantifying adjective "small" and the noun "allowance". It typically serves as the direct object of verbs like "receive", "give", or "provide". According to Ludwig, this structure is standard and versatile across various disciplines.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small allowance" is a highly versatile expression used to describe a restricted financial payment or a limited technical margin. Ludwig data confirms its prevalence in high-quality journalism and academic research, where it often characterizes the modest support given to volunteers, students, or marginalized individuals. While it is grammatically correct and widely accepted, writers should ensure they distinguish between its financial meaning (a stipend) and its technical meaning (a tolerance). Overall, it remains a stable and reliable choice for highlighting limited but existing resources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest stipend

Suggests a fixed, regular payment typically for students or volunteers, carrying a more professional tone

small allocation

Used in administrative or bureaucratic contexts to describe the distribution of resources

limited budget

Refers to the total available funds rather than a specific recurring payment

limited pocket money

Usually refers to funds given to children or for personal incidental expenses

nominal sum

Emphasizes that the amount is symbolic or very low compared to the actual value

tiny budget

A more informal way to describe very restricted financial resources

modest honorarium

Specific to a payment given for professional services where a fee is not legally required

minor grant

Implies a one-time award or funding for a specific purpose rather than a recurring living expense

meager pittance

Strongly suggests that the amount is inadequate or insultingly low

slight tolerance

Applies to the technical sense of "allowance" in engineering, referring to a permitted deviation

FAQs

How do I use "small allowance" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe restricted funding, such as: "The student lived on a "small allowance" provided by her parents while studying abroad."

What can I say instead of "small allowance"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/modest+stipend" target="_blank" rel="alternative">modest stipend", "<a href="/s/small+allocation" target="_blank" rel="alternative">small allocation", or "<a href="/s/nominal+sum" target="_blank" rel="alternative">nominal sum".

Is "small allowance" formal enough for business?

Yes, it is acceptable in professional settings, though "<a href="/s/modest+stipend" target="_blank" rel="alternative">modest stipend" or "<a href="/s/living+allowance" target="_blank" rel="alternative">living allowance" might be preferred for official contracts.

What is the difference between "small allowance" and "small budget"?

A "small allowance" usually refers to a specific recurring payment to an individual, while a "<a href="/s/small+budget" target="_blank" rel="alternative">small budget" refers to the total amount of money available for a project or organization.