some small changes

USAGE SUMMARY

'some small changes' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a minor adjustment that has been made or is being proposed. For example, "We were able to implement some small changes to the system without any disruption to our service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr. Walcott has already made some small changes around the edges.

The New York Times

The Assembly has passed a bill keeping the schools in the mayor's hands, with some small changes.

The New York Times

Ms. Gibson of Target said the goal was to largely mimic American stores, with some small changes.

The New York Times

On Saturday, Mr. Brahimi said that it might be necessary to "make some small changes to the Geneva agreement".

The New York Times

In rehearsal Mr. Parrish sought and won some small changes in the choreography that, he said, "let me soak up the stage more".

The New York Times

Although there are some small changes, they don't equate to the millions of dollars being sent by international communities to help the young government.

The Guardian

They are nearly identical on the outside, apart from some small changes to the metal antenna around the edge, but their innards are quite different.

The New York Times - Tech

Facebook has also made some small changes to how profile pages appear, including putting pictures and mutual friends higher up on the pages.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Encourage random acts of kindness On a school trip to Brighton pier, I gave my students some small change to go on the penny machines.

The Guardian

We walk down the street and see a homeless guy asking for some small change and we stride straight past avoiding his eye.

The Guardian

In that blissful, prelapsarian time, you would hand over two $1 bills and get back coffee and some small change — 9 cents, actually, but it seemed inconsequential.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "some small changes" when you want to downplay the magnitude of the changes being made. This can be useful in situations where you want to avoid raising concerns or creating unnecessary excitement.

Common error

Avoid using "some small changes" when the modifications are actually significant. This can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. Instead, accurately reflect the true extent of the alterations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some small changes" functions as a noun phrase, where "some" acts as a determiner, "small" modifies the noun "changes", and the entire phrase typically serves as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "some small changes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating minor adjustments. It functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving to convey that modifications have occurred without being drastic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and versatile. Its register is generally neutral, though its usage leans towards professional and scientific contexts. Remember to use it when the alterations are genuinely minor to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some minor adjustments

Replaces "changes" with "adjustments", implying a fine-tuning or correction.

a few subtle alterations

Substitutes "small" with "subtle" and "changes" with "alterations", highlighting the understated nature of the modifications.

several slight modifications

Uses "several" and "slight" to quantify and qualify the changes respectively, with "modifications" offering a more technical tone.

certain incremental variations

Emphasizes the gradual and progressive nature of the "variations".

limited scope amendments

Replaces "small" with "limited scope", making the phrase more formal; "amendments" suggests formal corrections.

modest revisions

"Modest" replaces "small", emphasizing the humility of the changes; "revisions" implies improvements.

a handful of tiny tweaks

Uses more casual language with "handful" and "tiny", while "tweaks" suggests minor, practical adjustments.

some marginal differences

Focuses on the resulting "differences" being small or barely noticeable.

a sprinkling of nominal updates

"Sprinkling" adds a qualitative sense of lightness, and "nominal" suggests the updates are only in name.

restricted parametric variations

Emphasizes the constraints of changes, and "parametric variations" suggests technical scope.

FAQs

How can I use "some small changes" in a sentence?

You can use "some small changes" to describe minor adjustments or modifications. For example, "We made "some small changes" to the user interface based on user feedback".

What are some alternatives to "some small changes"?

Alternatives include "minor adjustments", "slight modifications", or "subtle alterations", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it appropriate to use "some small changes" in formal writing?

Yes, "some small changes" is generally appropriate for formal writing, especially when you want to downplay the significance of the modifications. However, more formal alternatives like "modest revisions" may also be suitable.

What is the difference between "some small changes" and "major revisions"?

"Some small changes" indicates minor adjustments that don't significantly alter the overall structure or function. "Major revisions", on the other hand, implies substantial alterations that result in a significant transformation.