small nuance

USAGE SUMMARY

'small nuance' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a subtle difference between two things. For example, "The small nuance between these two choices makes it difficult to choose one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

I don't think they care about what somebody said yesterday about some small nuance of some issue".

The New York Times

Sites will speculate endlessly about teasers and report breathlessly about each small nuance ahead of launch.

TechCrunch

qThere is a small nuance to this argument which is elaborated in the first paragraph of footnote 21. rThere are also practical reasons consent ought to be sought.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

But the other point of confusion here is a seemingly small nuance critical to advancing the debate.

TechCrunch

There could be something, some small nuance, that you can graft onto your own leadership style, and that can make you more effective.

Forbes

You've got 20-30 minute long tracks with all this repetition, but with all this small nuance happening.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

They discovered many small nuances in the way stem cells are influenced by internal, chemical and environmental cues, revealing a complex "decision making" circuit of developmental regulators.

Harvard University

The phone may be down and you may be nodding in agreement, but you may not be picking up on the small nuances the person is sharing.

Harvard Business Review

That's how the rotation will challenge Gomes and Suzuki, too, with small nuances that have set them apart or kept them afloat.

The Washington Post

"She brings to the table a lot of small nuances that are embedded culturally," Mr. Lin said of his wife, who has also encouraged him to serve tea to his elders and refer to older people as aunty and uncle.

The New York Times

Researchers discovered many small nuances in pluripotency states of stem cells by subjecting the cells to various perturbations and then analyzing each individual cell to observe all the different reactions to developmental cues within a stem cell colony.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small nuance" when you want to highlight a subtle but potentially important distinction. Consider the context to ensure it accurately conveys the intended level of subtlety.

Common error

Avoid using "small nuance" to describe major differences. This diminishes the impact of the term and can mislead your audience. Use stronger language when significant distinctions exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small nuance" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "nuance". It describes a subtle, often minor, distinction. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small nuance" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for describing subtle distinctions. While Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is uncommon, appearing primarily in news, science, and business contexts. When writing, use it to draw attention to minor but potentially significant details. Avoid exaggerating the importance of the distinction being described. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use, offering insights into how to effectively incorporate this phrase into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subtle distinction

Emphasizes the subtlety of the difference.

slight variation

Highlights a minor change or modification.

minor detail

Focuses on the insignificance of the element.

delicate difference

Suggests a fragile or sensitive distinction.

fine point

Implies precision and attention to detail.

subtle point

This emphasizes a point that is not immediately obvious.

slight particularity

Highlights a specific, minor attribute.

minute detail

Emphasizes that the detail is very small.

trivial difference

Suggests that the distinction is unimportant.

inconsequential detail

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the detail.

FAQs

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

You can use "small nuance" to describe a subtle difference. For example, "The "small nuance" in their approaches led to different outcomes."

What are some alternatives to saying "small nuance"?

Alternatives include "subtle distinction", "slight variation", or "minor detail" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "small nuance", since nuances are already subtle?

While nuances are generally subtle, using "small nuance" can emphasize the particularly minor nature of the difference being described. It adds a degree of emphasis, so use judiciously.

What's the difference between "small nuance" and "big difference"?

"Small nuance" refers to a subtle and often easily overlooked distinction, whereas "big difference" indicates a significant and obvious disparity. They are opposites in terms of scale and impact.