small at best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small at best" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It's used to describe something that is not very large or significant. For example, you could say "The impact of the new policy on employee morale was small at best."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Other economists, however, said the benefits would be small at best.

The New York Times

The forest which shared a name with Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden was small at best in Shakespeare's day and is in little evidence today, although centuries-old trees persist.

Britannica

An in-depth evaluation of the law concluded that the impact of even a more comprehensive ban would be "small at best and perhaps too small for reliable measurement".

The Guardian

"Should it be renewed, the ban's effects on gun violence are likely to be small at best and perhaps too small for reliable measurement," a Department of Justice-funded evaluation concluded.

The Guardian

According to our estimates, the general association between TLF and the number of working hours is small at best.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

However for all the spring in their stride, opponents of gay marriage are also aware that their chances of blocking France's law are small at best.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The coadministration of these agents was associated with unexpectedly severe gastrointestinal toxicity and myelosuppression, and the RR in this small cohort was modest at best.

British Journal of Cancer

More than a few columnists believed that Obama was now resigned to small victories, at best.

The New Yorker

The screen is so small that at best, you can read half a headline.

The New York Times - Tech

Exercise — at least the way we think of it, as willful, dutiful, physical activity — played a small role at best.

The New York Times - Magazine

So the Ryan plan worsens our trillion-dollar structural deficit and the Obama plan amounts to small potatoes, at best.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small at best" when you want to downplay the significance or impact of something, implying it's minimal or possibly nonexistent. Be sure the context supports this understated assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "small at best" when describing something that is already known to be substantial. This phrase is best suited for subtle or questionable effects, not for downplaying something clearly significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small at best" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun's quality or quantity is minimal, with a potential implication that it might not even exist. Ludwig AI confirms it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small at best" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something as minimal or possibly nonexistent. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable across various contexts, though more frequently found in scientific and news-related articles. Its purpose is to downplay the significance of a subject, and while predominantly neutral, it carries a slight informal tone. When using "small at best", ensure you're accurately portraying the understated nature of the situation to avoid overstating the obvious. Alternatives like "minimal at most" or "negligible at best" offer similar nuances depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal at most

Replaces 'small' with 'minimal', implying a very low quantity or effect.

negligible at best

Substitutes 'small' with 'negligible', suggesting the impact is so tiny it's practically non-existent.

slight if anything

This suggests that the effect is so little it is questionable if it exists at all.

modest at best

Uses 'modest' instead of 'small', indicating a restrained or limited degree.

marginal at best

Replaces 'small' with 'marginal', implying the effect is barely significant or on the edge of being irrelevant.

limited at best

Uses the word 'limited' instead of small, shifting focus to the restricted scope or extent of something.

tiny at best

Replaces 'small' with 'tiny' to emphasize extreme insignificance.

inconsequential at best

Implies the effect is not important or worth consideration, rather than just being small.

almost nonexistent

Indicates that something practically doesn't exist or have any discernible effect.

hardly noticeable

Focuses on the difficulty of perceiving or detecting the effect, making it very slight.

FAQs

How can I use "small at best" in a sentence?

You can use "small at best" to downplay the significance or impact of something. For example: "The improvements to the system were "small at best" and didn't justify the cost."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "small at best"?

Alternatives include "minimal at most", "negligible at best", or "slight if anything" depending on the context you wish to emphasize.

Is it appropriate to use "small at best" in formal writing?

Yes, "small at best" can be used in formal writing. While it carries a slightly informal tone due to its understated nature, it is grammatically correct and widely understood, making it suitable for professional contexts.

What's the difference between "small at best" and "insignificant"?

"Small at best" implies something might have a slight positive effect, even if it's almost unnoticeable. "Insignificant" means something lacks importance or consequence. Thus, "small at best" suggests a minimal quantity or effect, while "insignificant" emphasizes the lack of value or importance.