small alteration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small alteration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a minor change or adjustment made to something. Example: "The report required a small alteration to the data presented in the third section."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

This shows that each version of a promoter, even if it seems highly similar to others, requires careful investigation of expression patterns as each small alteration can alter tissue specificity.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Please be careful in altering the ingredients because a small alteration can change the name of the recipe.

WikiHow

Eventually he tracked the difference down to a small alteration he had inadvertently made in transferring the initial data, by altering the number of decimal places.

BBC

Sometimes it's a small alteration.

Yale University

With a small alteration of Nets to Mets, this pithy saying applies today.

The New York Times - Sports

One friend noted that her son, a sophomore in college, wasn't happy when she chose to make one small alteration — hanging up new curtains in his bedroom.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Small alterations can have big effects.

The Economist

A fixed set undergoes small alterations for scene shifts; sly little jokes on perspective are played.

The New York Times - Arts

In addition, we observed small alterations in some of the biophysical properties of the channel.

Nature

We can't make small alterations to our economy – we need fundamental changes in how we get and use energy".

The Guardian

This might seem like a harmless substitution, but small alterations in our language can mean a great deal.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small alteration" when you want to emphasize that a change is minor and doesn't fundamentally alter something. It's useful for technical descriptions, recipes, or instructions where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "small alteration" when the change significantly impacts the outcome. Use stronger terms like "major overhaul" or "significant modification" if the change has a substantial effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small alteration" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "alteration". It describes a change or modification that is of limited extent or significance, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

31%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Science & Research

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small alteration" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a minor modification. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in science and news. While seemingly simple, it's important to use "small alteration" accurately, ensuring the described change is indeed minor. Alternatives like "minor adjustment" or "slight modification" can be used for semantic variation. Avoid using "small alteration" when a more significant change has occurred. Its frequent occurrence in authoritative sources reinforces its validity and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor adjustment

Refers to a slight change made to correct or improve something; emphasizes precision.

slight modification

Indicates a change that is not significant or substantial; focuses on the act of modifying.

subtle change

Highlights that the change is delicate and not immediately obvious; emphasizes the subtlety.

marginal difference

Stresses the minimal impact or importance of the difference; highlights the insignificance.

tiny revision

Emphasizes the small scale of the changes made; focuses on the process of revising.

minimal variation

Highlights the limited extent of the changes or differences; focuses on the lack of significant variation.

modest adjustment

Suggests a restrained or moderate change; emphasizes the moderation.

inconsequential amendment

Highlights that the change is insignificant and without major consequence; emphasizes unimportance.

negligible modification

Implies that the alteration is so small it can be disregarded; emphasizes the almost nonexistent change.

limited shift

Indicates a small degree of movement or change in a particular direction; focuses on the constrained nature of the shift.

FAQs

What does "small alteration" mean?

A "small alteration" refers to a minor change or adjustment made to something, not significantly impacting its overall form or function.

How to use "small alteration" in a sentence?

You can use "small alteration" to describe a minor change. For example: "The recipe only required a "small alteration" to be perfect."

What can I say instead of "small alteration"?

You can use alternatives like "minor adjustment", "slight modification", or "subtle change" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "slight alteration" instead of "small alteration"?

Yes, "slight alteration" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "small alteration" and conveys essentially the same meaning.