the merest inaccuracy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the merest inaccuracy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a very small or trivial error in a statement or piece of information. Example: "Even the merest inaccuracy in the report could lead to significant misunderstandings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The merest whimper.

Independent

The merest suggestion goes a long way.

WikiHow

It should be noted that this inaccuracy seemed to be influenced for a large part by the mere 3-mm spatial resolution of the freehandSPECT images [23].

EJNMMI Research

The mere thought of it is profane.

The New York Times

You have the peel, the mere skin.

The New Yorker

The mere proposal seemed a reward.

The New Yorker

The MerE transformants exhibited no distinctive phenotypes.

AMB Express

The mere announcement had the desired effect.

BBC

The mere suggestion, he said, was insulting.

BBC

The Huffington Post regrets the inaccuracy.

HuffPost

Any glitch in the computerization increases the chances for inaccuracy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the merest inaccuracy" to underscore the insignificance of an error, often in situations where precision is paramount but a slight deviation is inconsequential.

Common error

Avoid using "the merest inaccuracy" when the error has significant consequences. Choose stronger phrasing to reflect the actual impact of the error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the merest inaccuracy" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes an error or deviation from accuracy that is extremely small or insignificant. Though Ludwig AI reports examples, this phrase is still rarely used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the merest inaccuracy" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to emphasize the insignificance of an error. Ludwig AI indicates that it is mostly used to emphasize how trivial is an deviation. While grammatically sound, it is not very common. Alternatives like "the slightest error" or "a trivial mistake" may be more frequently encountered. Ludwig AI analysis is generally positive, highlighting its proper usage although more examples would be welcome to have a more accurate evaluation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the slightest error

Replaces "merest" with "slightest", indicating a minimal level of error.

the tiniest mistake

Substitutes "merest" with "tiniest" and "inaccuracy" with "mistake", highlighting the insignificance of the error.

the smallest error

Uses "smallest" instead of "merest", focusing on the minimal size of the error.

the most minor error

Emphasizes the insignificance of the error by using "most minor".

a trivial error

Replaces the entire phrase with a direct adjective-noun combination, indicating a negligible error.

a negligible inaccuracy

Similar to "trivial error", but retains the term "inaccuracy".

a very small error

Uses a more descriptive approach, specifying the size of the error.

the barest imprecision

Replaces "inaccuracy" with "imprecision", while "barest" implies just a minimal amount.

the least significant inaccuracy

Highlights the lack of importance of the inaccuracy.

the most subtle inaccuracy

Focuses on how difficult it is to detect the inaccuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "the merest inaccuracy" in a sentence?

You can use "the merest inaccuracy" to emphasize how small an error is. For example, "Even "the merest inaccuracy" in the calculations could lead to significant errors".

What's a good substitute for "the merest inaccuracy"?

Alternatives include "the slightest error", "the tiniest mistake", or "a trivial error", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "the slightest inaccuracy" or "the merest inaccuracy"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "the slightest inaccuracy" is more commonly used. "The merest inaccuracy" adds a slightly more formal or emphatic tone.

What does "merest" mean in the context of "the merest inaccuracy"?

In this context, "merest" means the smallest or slightest. It emphasizes how minimal the inaccuracy is.