small assistance

USAGE SUMMARY

"small assistance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to indicate a small amount of help or aid. Here are some examples: 1. "Thank you for your small assistance in organizing the event. It made a big difference." 2. "My parents offered me small assistance when I moved into my new apartment, like helping me set up the furniture." 3. "The local community center provides small assistance to low-income families with food and resources." 4. "I'm not very good at math, but with a small assistance from my teacher, I was able to pass the test." 5. "The government has allocated funds for small assistance programs to support small businesses affected by the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The patient and his member of Congress, with some small assistance from me, had waged a relentless campaign to make this happen.

The New York Times

There will be no problems of "nerves" for the royal couple Seasoned Palace-watchers know that, while the radiance of the happy couple on Friday will be genuine, some small assistance will have been provided by the royal medicine cupboard.

Independent

The international troop presence will remain at around 13,000 in early 2015, with the drawdown to resume on its path to phasing down to a small assistance role by the end of 2016.

Forbes

And remember a time when hope kept you going through great difficulty, and when the offer of even a small assistance from someone else took on great magnitude for you.

Huffington Post

Still, U.S. security assistance to Southeast Asia remained comparatively small: assistance to the Middle East and North Africa was more than 50 times as large as aid to Southeast Asia in 2015, while assistance to Europe was nearly three times as large as aid to Southeast Asia in 2015.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Other groups representing physicians have made a pitch for clinical science, and the NIH has responded with small-scale assistance programs.

Science Magazine

In some cases, the doctoral studies had to be adapted due to the lack of funding for even small-scale assistance with data collection.

Global Health Action

Instead the American government needs to lift the middle class with investments in education, job training, health care and economic programs such as small business assistance and tangible mortgage assistance.

Huffington Post

Citing gains on health care, college aid and small business assistance, Mr. Obama said, "Don't let them tell you change isn't possible.

The New York Times

Part 795 of this chapter, Small Operator Assistance, shall apply to any person making application for assistance under the small operator assistance program.

Cornell University

§ 933.795 Small operator assistance.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small assistance" to emphasize that the help is not substantial but still valuable or necessary in the given situation.

Common error

Avoid using "small assistance" when the actual support provided is significant. Overstating the insignificance of help can undermine the value of the contribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small assistance" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "assistance". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it accurately describes a limited degree of support or aid. Examples show its usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "small assistance" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a limited amount of help or support. While not overly common, as indicated by its "Uncommon" frequency, it appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academia. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples of its use. When writing, remember to use the phrase when accurately depicting the limited nature of the support and avoid overstating its impact. Consider alternatives like "minor aid" or "slight help" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor aid

Replaces "assistance" with "aid" and "small" with "minor", emphasizing the limited scale of help.

slight help

Substitutes "assistance" with "help" and "small" with "slight", indicating a minimal amount of support.

modest support

Replaces "assistance" with "support" and "small" with "modest", suggesting limited encouragement or backing.

limited help

Uses "limited" instead of "small" to describe the extent of the help provided, maintaining a focus on the restricted amount.

minimal support

Emphasizes the bare minimum level of support given.

token assistance

Implies that the assistance is symbolic or nominal in value or impact.

marginal aid

Suggests that the help is at the edge or periphery, and thus not substantial.

negligible help

Highlights that the assistance is so small that it is almost not worth considering.

insignificant support

Focuses on the idea that the support is not important or meaningful due to its size.

a touch of assistance

Uses a more figurative expression to convey a very small amount of assistance.

FAQs

How can I use "small assistance" in a sentence?

You can use "small assistance" to describe minor help or support, such as "The project succeeded with a "small assistance" from volunteers" or "Even a "small assistance" can make a big difference."

What are some alternatives to "small assistance"?

Alternatives to "small assistance" include "minor aid", "slight help", "modest support", or "limited help". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "small assistance" or "little assistance"?

"Small assistance" and "little assistance" are largely interchangeable, but "small" emphasizes size or amount, while "little" can sometimes imply endearment or emotional connection. Choose based on the tone you want to create.

Can "small assistance" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "small assistance" is appropriate for formal writing as long as it accurately describes the scale of the help provided. In some contexts, alternatives like "modest support" might sound more formal.