small comment

USAGE SUMMARY

"small comment" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You may use it when you'd like to emphasize the insignificance of a comment. For example, "I have a small comment about the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I have one small comment.

The New York Times

So, small comment communities usually fare better than larger ones.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Not one of his books caused as big a stir as Shishkin's small comment".

The New York Times - Books

I'm afraid people have taken one small comment where I was describing my situation.

The Guardian - Sport

However some were rather more critical: EricPicklesFatNeck: "she made one small comment about eastern european workers.

The Guardian

Until just now, I believed the "unbelievably small" comment was just viral parody.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

(We have his bio in the Diogenes Laertius "Lives," and small comments like the one Cicero preserved, about the pig).

The New Yorker

Kakao Story is a popular app among Korean users, but it lacks certain key features desired by teenagers who prefer writing long stories as small comments, as well as blogging around webtoons.

TechCrunch

Now I am the queen of sarcasm, laughing, poking fun, and the like, but this small comment-meant to do no harm, ended up escalating into some very angry comments and a potentially ruined evening.

Huffington Post

What I've come to realize is that if we tolerate these small comments and grazes from men on the street or former presidents, they might assume that it's ok with us, and they may take it as permission to do who-knows-what else".

Vice

Small comments: 1. Abstract: "Sketchy" is a colloquial word that is not suited to scientific articles.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small comment" to introduce a minor point or suggestion, signaling that it doesn't require extensive discussion or attention.

Common error

Avoid using "small comment" if the point you're making is actually significant or requires detailed consideration. It can undermine the importance of your contribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small comment" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "small" modifies the noun "comment", indicating the comment's relative unimportance or brevity. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's used to preface a minor point.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small comment" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to introduce a minor point or suggestion. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suggests its function is to downplay the importance of the comment. While generally neutral, it's essential to avoid using it when the point is actually significant. The phrase finds frequent use in news, media, and wiki sources, as shown in Ludwig's examples, with related alternatives including "brief remark" and "minor observation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small observation

Focuses on the size of the observation.

small note

Focuses on the size of the note.

brief remark

Focuses on the conciseness of the comment.

minor point

Highlights the lack of significance of the comment.

minor observation

Highlights the insignificance of the observation being made.

quick note

Implies a rapid and brief comment.

passing remark

Suggests a comment made casually and without much thought.

slight suggestion

Emphasizes the gentle and non-forceful nature of the comment.

tiny suggestion

Emphasizes that the remark is really small.

brief interjection

Highlights the interrupting nature and brevity of the comment.

FAQs

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

You can use "small comment" to introduce a minor point, for example: "I have a small comment regarding the budget allocation." or "Just a small comment, perhaps we should consider alternative approaches."

What's a good alternative to "small comment"?

Alternatives include "brief remark", "minor observation", or "quick note", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "small comment"?

It's appropriate when you want to preface a minor point or suggestion, indicating that it's not central to the discussion but still worth mentioning.

Is "small comment" formal or informal?

The phrase is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. However, in highly formal contexts, a more professional phrase like "minor observation" might be preferred.