small discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a minor difference or inconsistency in data, information, or measurements. Example: "After reviewing the reports, I noticed a small discrepancy in the figures that needs to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Even a small discrepancy could lead to completely different weather.

The New York Times

Both sides acknowledge that, normally, no one would be concerned about such a small discrepancy.

The New York Times

When she fretted over a small discrepancy on a balance sheet, a colleague mailed her a five-dollar bill to make up the difference.

The New York Times

Mr. Hooper held up the baskets, pleased with his find, then his eyes narrowed on a small discrepancy: one basket was slightly darker than the other.

The New York Times

When typing in the new conditions, Dr. Lorenz had entered the rounded-off numbers, and even this small discrepancy, of less than 0.1percentt, completely changed the end result.

The New York Times

Yet, rather than by low self-esteem per se, socially anxious people are characterised by a small discrepancy between esteem of self and others, and it may be this reduced tendency to self-favouring that is pivotal to social anxiety.

Behaviour Research and Therapy

As I was reviewing them, I noticed a small discrepancy.

Forbes

Notwithstanding, there is a small discrepancy between both functionals.

Chemistry Central Journal

Again, the small discrepancy is due to the approximation done in the theoretical expressions.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

One potential reason for this small discrepancy might be related to diversification in regional labor force participation trends.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

This small discrepancy might be due to the difference in the ICU discharge criteria between each institution.

JA Clinical Reports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small discrepancy" to highlight minor inconsistencies without exaggerating their importance.

Common error

Don't dismiss a "small discrepancy" without investigation. Even seemingly insignificant differences can sometimes point to larger problems or systematic errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small discrepancy" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "small" modifies the noun "discrepancy". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. It's used to identify and describe a minor difference or inconsistency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "small discrepancy" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a minor inconsistency or difference, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various fields, including science, news, and formal business contexts. While seemingly insignificant, such discrepancies can sometimes point to larger underlying issues, making it crucial to acknowledge and investigate them, especially in fields requiring high accuracy. Alternatives such as "slight difference" or "minor inconsistency" can be used depending on the specific emphasis desired. Therefore, understanding the proper use and implications of a "small discrepancy" is valuable across many disciplines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight difference

Focuses on the difference being minimal or barely noticeable.

minor difference

States that there is a distinction of reduced importance.

minor inconsistency

Emphasizes a lack of agreement or uniformity, but on a small scale.

tiny variation

Highlights the change or deviation, portraying it as extremely small.

negligible difference

Stresses that the difference is so small it's practically unimportant.

marginal variation

Indicates a variation that's on the edge of being significant, but isn't.

minimal deviation

Highlights the departure from a standard or norm, but only by a small amount.

slight variance

Refers to a small amount of statistical dispersion or difference.

modest divergence

Indicates a separation or moving apart that is not significant.

small deviation

Focuses on the act of differing or straying from the standard, but only slightly.

FAQs

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

You can use "small discrepancy" to point out a minor difference or inconsistency, for example: "After reviewing the accounts, I found a small discrepancy in the totals".

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

Alternatives include "slight difference", "minor inconsistency", or "tiny variation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a point when a "small discrepancy" becomes significant?

Yes, even a seemingly "small discrepancy" can become significant if it consistently appears, affects critical calculations, or indicates a systemic problem.

When should I investigate a "small discrepancy"?

It's best to investigate a "small discrepancy" when accuracy is paramount, when dealing with financial data, or when attempting to identify patterns or anomalies.