tittle

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'tittle' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that means a small or insignificant amount or part of something. It is often used in phrases or expressions such as "a tittle of doubt" or "a tittle of truth." For example, "Even a tittle of doubt in a witness's testimony can undermine the credibility of their entire statement." This sentence suggests that even a small amount of doubt can have a significant impact on the overall trustworthiness of the witness's statement. Another example could be, "There was not a tittle of evidence to support the politician's claims." This sentence means that there was absolutely no evidence to back up the politician's statements. In both of these examples, 'tittle' is used to emphasize the small or insignificant nature of something. It is often used in a dramatic or poetic context to add emphasis to a statement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Whatever would stop it, it hasn't happened today, so let's embrace the tittle tattle.

The Guardian - Sport

The Tories ought to be strong on such things, but their message was being lost in the taxi-chit paper-chase.Fresh from claiming Mr McLetchie's scalp, journalists have so deluged the parliament with inquiries about all 129 MSPs' expenses that George Reid, the presiding officer, has decided every jot and tittle will be published on the parliament's website.

The Economist

It is impossible to change even the tiniest jot or tittle…" But he stopped believing in that, and notes that "most modern Jews don't", either.

The Economist

The Vanity Fair article wasn't all tittle tattle.

Independent

Giving evidence to the final session of the Iraq Inquiry before the summer, he said that many of the reports about Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) appeared to be just "tittle tattle".

Independent

"Certainly what they do in intelligence is a bit of tittle tattle here and a bit more information there.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

One recent sliver of information has been more intriguing than most of the tittle-tattle, however.

The Guardian - Music

"They're less likely to tittle-tattle," she says, "because they know that, if they do, it's going to come back to them.

The Guardian

The prime minister's spokesman says that Mr Blair had "better things to do than read what appeared to be a series of pieces of tittle-tattle flammed up into some frothtastic cocktail of nonsense".

The Economist

The Met's defenders say the explanation for its soft-peddling is not conspiracy but capacity: it had better things to do with its time than worry about naughty journalists intercepting tittle-tattle.

The Economist

For that reason they ruled that dinner-party tittle-tattle or Lord Browne's views of his colleagues should remain private, but details of his alleged misuse of BP computers and staff to help the man who was then his lover could be revealed.The bowdlerised sorry tale should be on the streets this weekend.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tittle" when you want to emphasize the extreme smallness or insignificance of something, often in contexts where precision or completeness is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "tittle" in casual conversation; it's more appropriate in formal writing or when aiming for a slightly archaic or literary effect. Consider synonyms like "bit", "iota", or "smidgen" for everyday use.

Linguistic Context

The noun "tittle" functions primarily to denote a small, insignificant amount or part of something. This usage is highlighted in the examples provided by Ludwig, which demonstrate its role in emphasizing the minimal nature of what's being discussed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "tittle" is a grammatically correct noun used to denote a small or insignificant amount. While not frequently encountered in everyday language, as shown by the relatively low example count, it is found primarily in News & Media sources, indicating a formal or literary register. Ludwig AI confirms that "tittle" is valid and provides helpful context for usage. When writing, use "tittle" to emphasize the extremely small or insignificant nature of something, but consider synonyms like "iota" or "whit" for more common or accessible language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

iota

A synonym referring to a very small amount or degree.

whit

Similar to "tittle", emphasizing a tiny amount.

jot

Refers to a very small amount, often used in conjunction with "tittle".

smidgen

An informal term for a small amount.

modicum

Implies a small or limited quantity.

scintilla

A tiny spark or trace.

gossip

Focuses on trivial or idle talk.

rumors

Refers to unverified information circulating among people.

small talk

Casual conversation about unimportant things.

idle chatter

Meaningless or pointless conversation.

FAQs

How to use "tittle" in a sentence?

You can use "tittle" to emphasize a very small amount, as in, "There isn't a "tittle of evidence" to support that claim."

What can I say instead of "tittle"?

Alternatives include "iota", "whit", or "jot", depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "tittle" or "title"?

"Tittle" and "title" are completely different words with unrelated meanings. "Tittle" refers to a small amount or detail, while "title" refers to a name or heading.

What's the difference between "tittle" and "tittle-tattle"?

"Tittle" refers to a tiny amount, while "tittle-tattle" means gossip or trivial talk. Therefore, "tittle-tattle" is related to conversation, whereas "tittle" is about quantity.