smallest concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smallest concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is of minimal importance or worry in a given context. Example: "In the grand scheme of things, my financial situation is my smallest concern right now; my health is what truly matters."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This is so because, due to the single-crossing property, any agent who may possibly regret her choice will always outperform other agents with the same health disposition who want the same bundle ex post, but who have ex ante preferences that exhibit a smallest concern for health.

SERIEs

Controlling the car will help you avoid making the airbag inflate in the first place, and will also prevent harder crashes, where hand fracture due to airbag inflation is your smallest concern.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In my mind, this is a small-scale concern.

The New York Times

No small concern.

The New York Times

It is no small concern.

The New York Times

This was a matter of no small concern.

The New York Times - Health

Overtopping, however, presents only a "small concern," the corps said.

The New York Times - Science

His mother started a small concern writing and reading letters for illiterate neighbors.

The New Yorker

Robert B. Tierney, the commission chairman, is left with only one small concern.

The New York Times

"If something were to happen to the pacemaker, that's a small concern," Hoiberg said.

The New York Times

In jurisdictions where finance typically accounts for around half of GDP, that is no small concern.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smallest concern" when you want to downplay the significance of an issue compared to other, more pressing matters. It's useful for prioritizing concerns or reassuring someone that something is not a major problem.

Common error

Avoid using "smallest concern" to dismiss a problem that could potentially escalate. Misrepresenting the importance of an issue can lead to mistrust or negligence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smallest concern" functions as a noun phrase, where "smallest" modifies the noun "concern". As Ludwig AI points out, it's used to describe something that is of minimal importance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smallest concern" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to indicate something of minimal importance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and suggests that it can be replaced by alternatives like "least concern" or "minor issue". Its usage appears across various contexts including science, news, and wikis, but remains relatively rare. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the issue's significance to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

least worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", emphasizing the emotional aspect of the issue being minimal.

minor worry

Uses "minor" instead of "smallest", suggesting a slightly higher level of importance, but still low.

slightest problem

Replaces both "smallest" and "concern", framing the issue as a problem with minimal impact.

negligible issue

Indicates the issue is so small it can be disregarded.

inconsequential matter

Highlights the lack of importance or relevance of the issue.

trifling matter

Indicates that the matter is trivial or insignificant.

minimal apprehension

Shifts the focus to the feeling of unease being minimal.

secondary consideration

Positions the issue as less important than other factors.

lower priority

Highlights that the concern is not a main objective or something that needs immediate action.

insignificant detail

Replaces "concern" with "detail", framing it as a small and unimportant part of a larger picture.

FAQs

How can I use "smallest concern" in a sentence?

You can use "smallest concern" to downplay the significance of an issue compared to others. For example, "While project deadlines loom, equipment maintenance is currently our "smallest concern"".

What are some alternatives to "smallest concern"?

Alternatives include phrases like "minor issue", "least worry", or "negligible issue", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "smallest concern" in formal writing?

Yes, "smallest concern" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to convey that something is of minimal importance. However, consider using alternatives such as "secondary consideration" for added formality.

What's the difference between "smallest concern" and "minor concern"?

"Smallest concern" implies that something is the least important among a set of concerns, while "minor concern" simply means it's not very important. The former is more comparative.