small but good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small but good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that may not be large in size or scope but is still of high quality or value. Example: "The restaurant is small but good, offering a cozy atmosphere and delicious food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The warm apple tart was small but good.

The New York Times

Serves French classics at reasonable prices, small but good wine list.

The Guardian - Travel

"I think this is a small but good step toward a hard-to-reach goal of enabling us to show a robot how to do something," said Kenneth Salisbury, a Stanford University roboticist who also focuses on medical robots.

The New York Times - Science

"There are a lot of anglophone writers, aspiring writers and very good theatre schools in Paris, but there was a very large hole in small, but good, theatre productions, and we were excited about creating something new.

The Guardian

The passage of the new federal fuel economy bill in 2007 was a small but good step in the right direction.

Forbes

It essentially comes down to: decent build, decent keyboard, small but good screen, capabilities and hardware in line with what it's intended for, and a fair amount of built-in connectivity.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

If the situation is difficult for the big-money films, then it's positively horrific for the small-but-good sector.

The Guardian - Film

The Workhouse food, which is all homemade, runs to a small but good-quality selection of wraps and ciabatta, Moroccan-spiced pasties, sausage rolls and fantastic cakes.

The Guardian - Travel

"A small amount, but good quality".

The Guardian

Two or three months ago I could only hit slice, now I can hit some returns harder and that for me is a small thing but good thing.

The Guardian - Sport

The shops are small, but full of imported goods.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small but good" to positively describe something that might initially be perceived as lacking due to its size or scale. This can help to highlight its positive attributes and overall value.

Common error

While versatile, "small but good" might sound too informal or simplistic in highly professional or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "modest yet effective" or "compact but powerful" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small but good" functions as a compound adjective that positively describes a noun. As Ludwig AI states, it emphasizes the positive qualities that exist despite the small size. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, such as describing food or a step in a process.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

24%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small but good" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something whose size belies its positive attributes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, from food reviews to assessing progress. While versatile, it’s important to consider the register of your writing; more formal contexts may benefit from alternatives like "modest yet effective". Usage analysis shows the phrase appears across News & Media, Wiki, and Science domains. Remember to use it strategically to emphasize value where size might otherwise be perceived as a limitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest yet effective

Emphasizes effectiveness despite limited scale.

compact but powerful

Highlights potency despite small dimensions.

limited but valuable

Focuses on the worth of something despite its restrictions.

minor but significant

Stresses the importance of something seemingly small.

tiny but mighty

Highlights strength in something very small.

little but effective

Emphasizes usefulness and efficiency despite its size.

diminutive but impactful

Highlights significant influence despite small size.

pocket-sized but potent

Conveys power and effectiveness in a small package.

unassuming yet excellent

Focuses on high quality despite a lack of ostentation.

petite but appreciable

Highlights noticeable and positive qualities despite smallness.

FAQs

How can I use "small but good" in a sentence?

You can use "small but good" to describe something that is limited in size but has positive qualities. For example, "The restaurant is "small but good", offering a cozy atmosphere and delicious food."

What are some alternatives to "small but good"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "modest yet effective", "compact but powerful", or "limited but valuable".

Is it appropriate to use "small but good" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "small but good" may be perceived as informal in some professional or academic contexts. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives to maintain a formal tone.

What does "small but good" imply?

The phrase "small but good" suggests that despite limitations in size or scope, something possesses significant positive qualities or value.