small recommendation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small recommendation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting a minor piece of advice or a slight suggestion to someone. Example: "I have a small recommendation for improving your presentation: try to engage the audience with a question at the beginning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We have heard some things today, that they may have a small recommendation to bring home a couple thousand troops," Senator Reid said, noting that Congress had received several other assessments of the war, including one by the Government Accountability Office and another by a commission led by a retired Marine general, James L. Jones.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A number of smaller recommendations are already being acted on, like the purchase of more emergency lights, generators and small boats for firefighters.

The New York Times

But it adopted a series of smaller recommendations that, taken together, could spell major changes in the way access to sports is divided between boys and girls at high schools and colleges across the country.

The New York Times - Sports

The museum's Board of Regents had accepted Mr. Small's recommendation.

The New York Times

Mr. Small's recommendation to close the Smithsonian's National Zoo wildlife conservation center in Front Royal, Va., which he withdrew after opposition, was endorsed in part by the panel members.

The New York Times

Rapid or immediate release formulations should be used initially in patients with a short or irradiated small intestine (recommendation, expert agreement).

British Journal of Cancer

It shows that the prediction performance of the small-scale user recommendation system is mainly dependent on the multi-objective partitioning, and the multi-objective coordination performance is mainly reflected in the large-scale user recommendation system.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

However, treatment effect sizes seem to be rather small, and recommendations have varied over the years.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

We thank Rohini Deshpande, Kathy Keegan, Oliver Thiel, Lawrence R. McGee, John G. Allen, Alexander Swietlow, and Matthew Janson for strategy discussions and small molecule recommendations.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Depending on one's interpretation of 'relatively small', these recommendations can be taken as supportive of sham surgery in the case of the PD trials.

Bioethics

Therefore, ostensibly small differences in recommendation, or misinterpretation of a specific recommendation, substantially affect apparent physical activity status.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering a "small recommendation", ensure it's actionable and clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Frame it as an easy-to-implement suggestion, which is less forceful than a directive.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the potential impact of a "small recommendation". Present it as a minor improvement, not a comprehensive solution. Do not use it as a chance to grandstand and give a lot of unnecessary information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small recommendation" functions as a noun phrase, where 'small' modifies the noun 'recommendation'. It denotes a suggestion or piece of advice that is not significant or impactful, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

60%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small recommendation" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term for suggesting minor advice. According to Ludwig, it functions primarily as a noun phrase offering minor, non-intrusive recommendations. Its register is generally neutral and used across diverse contexts from news media to science. Alternatives like "minor suggestion" or "slight recommendation" can be used for similar effect. When using this phrase, remember to present it as a modest improvement rather than a complete overhaul.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight recommendation

Uses 'slight' instead of 'small' to emphasize the subtlety of the advice.

light recommendation

Emphasizes the ease and lack of pressure in following the suggestion.

minor suggestion

Replaces 'recommendation' with 'suggestion', implying a less formal piece of advice.

small piece of advice

Adds 'piece of' to explicitly frame it as a portion of advice.

brief suggestion

Highlights the conciseness of the suggestion.

modest proposal

Substitutes 'recommendation' with 'proposal', indicating a tentative suggestion.

minor adjustment

Focuses on a change or modification rather than a formal recommendation.

limited advice

Emphasizes the scope of the advice being limited.

humble opinion

Downplays the assertion level and implies tentativeness.

gentle nudge

Uses a metaphor to suggest a subtle encouragement.

FAQs

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

You can use "small recommendation" to introduce a minor piece of advice or a slight suggestion. For example, "I have a small recommendation for your presentation: try starting with a question".

What are some alternatives to saying "small recommendation"?

Alternatives include "minor suggestion", "slight recommendation", or "modest proposal" depending on the context.

Is "small recommendation" formal or informal?

"Small recommendation" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it leans slightly toward the less formal side.

When should I use "small recommendation" instead of "major recommendation"?

Use "small recommendation" when the advice is minor and doesn't require significant changes. Use "major recommendation" when the advice is substantial and involves significant changes or decisions.