small effect

USAGE SUMMARY

'small effect' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing the extent of an action, usually when the action has had a lesser impact than one might expect. For example: "The new regulations had a small effect on the housing market."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is not a small effect.

The New York Times

He only acknowledges one small effect.

The New York Times

"It's a small effect, but it's important".

The Guardian

However, this is a very small effect.

Cornell University

The problem is one of small effect sizes.

The Guardian

"It's a small effect, but it's important". he added.

The Guardian

The temperature had surprisingly a small effect.

Chemical Engineering Science

It has revealed lots of mutations of small effect.

The Economist

It would have a small effect on reducing teen pregnancy.

The New York Times

Only a very small effect of heating procedure was noticed.

Food Hydrocolloids

Interestingly, the time factor induces a small effect on extraction.

Hydrometallurgy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "small effect", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being affected and why the effect is considered small. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "small effect" is unimportant. In some contexts, particularly scientific research, even a small effect can be statistically significant and meaningful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small effect" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "effect". It describes the magnitude or extent of an outcome or influence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

38%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small effect" is a versatile term used to describe outcomes or impacts of limited magnitude. Grammatically sound and widely accepted, it appears frequently across diverse fields, particularly in science, news, and academia. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase conveys that while an action or event had some influence, its overall impact was minimal.

While phrases like "negligible impact" or "limited influence" offer similar meanings, "small effect" remains a direct and easily understood way to communicate the relative unimportance of a result. Remembering to provide context and avoid equating "small" with "unimportant" will ensure clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible impact

Replaces "effect" with "impact" and emphasizes the insignificance using "negligible".

minor consequence

Substitutes "effect" with "consequence", highlighting the outcome as relatively unimportant.

limited influence

Replaces "effect" with "influence", suggesting a restricted power to change something.

slight result

Uses "result" instead of "effect" and "slight" instead of "small" to denote minimal outcome.

modest impact

Employs "modest" as a synonym for "small", maintaining the meaning of a limited influence.

insignificant outcome

Replaces both "small" and "effect" with "insignificant" and "outcome", stressing the lack of importance.

marginal difference

Shifts the focus to the difference caused, describing it as marginal or barely noticeable.

minimal change

Highlights the alteration produced, characterizing it as minimal or very slight.

weak impact

Indicates that the force or effect of something is not strong.

faint effect

Replaces "small" with "faint" to further emphasize the subtle nature of the effect.

FAQs

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

You can use "small effect" to describe situations where something has a minimal impact. For example, "The policy change had a "small effect" on the economy".

What phrases are similar to "small effect"?

Similar phrases include "negligible impact", "minor consequence", and "limited influence".

Is it always bad to have a "small effect"?

Not necessarily. A "small effect" might be desirable in some situations, such as when minimizing side effects of a medication or when trying to subtly influence a situation. Its desirability depends on the context.

How does "small effect" differ from "no effect"?

"Small effect" indicates there is some impact, but it's minimal. "No effect" means there is absolutely no impact or change whatsoever.