trivial effect

USAGE SUMMARY

"trivial effect" is a correct phrase and can be used in both written and spoken English.
It is typically used to describe a small or insignificant impact or outcome. Example sentence: The change in the recipe had only a trivial effect on the taste of the cake.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

According to the Congressional Research Service, ending the subsidies would have no effect on gas prices and a trivial effect on profits.

The New York Times

The Congressional Research Service says that ending the subsidies would have no effect on gas prices for consumers and only a trivial effect on industry profits, which have been at record highs.

The New York Times

Results showed the trivial effect of floor thermal mass on heat gain, and the changes in sensible heat gain and envelope thermal mass were not linearly proportional, alluding the existence of an optimal envelope design.

Energy

Positioning of the source and sink, and the specifications of the corner bends are also observed to impose trivial effect on the overall loop thermalhydraulics, apart from enforcing a pre-defined flow direction and minor centrifugal action respectively.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

In a vigorous dissent, Luttig insisted that this application of the Endangered Species Act was unconstitutional because "the killing of even all 41 of the estimated red wolves that live on private property in North Carolina" would have only a trivial effect on interstate commerce.

The New York Times - Magazine

In a separate blog post, they also dispute Mr Geithner's arithmetic that spending the TARP money on underwater homeowners would have had only a trivial effect on output.They argue, therefore, that the money spent on the banks was better spent writing down the debt of homeowners; and that more generally, we should try to replace debt with more flexible equity-like contracts where possible.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Adding either test to an equation that included the other had only trivial effects on prediction.

Harvard University

In both systems, the choice of tests had only trivial effects on the aggregate prediction of FGPA.

Harvard University

"People had found pretty trivial effects in lab and greenhouse experiments, but we have shown they can translate into really big effects in the field.

The Guardian

It's a useful reminder now that so many young artists are content with trivial effects and fleeting fame, which were neither Hesse's goal nor situation.

The New York Times - Arts

Of course the generally applicable principle de minimis non curat lex ensures that jurisdiction may not be predicated on purely trivial effects in the United States.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trivial effect", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the impact is genuinely insignificant and not merely smaller than expected. Provide specific data or comparisons to support this claim for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "trivial effect" when the effect is actually small but noticeable. Trivial implies near-zero impact; using it for genuinely measurable effects weakens your argument. Instead, use "small effect" or "modest impact" if the change is observable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trivial effect" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "trivial" modifies the noun "effect". It describes the extent or degree of the impact or consequence of an action or event. Ludwig AI validates this phrase as correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trivial effect" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a minimal or insignificant impact. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for both written and spoken English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase serves to downplay the importance of a result, emphasizing its near-zero consequence. When employing "trivial effect", ensure the context genuinely reflects a negligible impact, differentiating it from merely small or modest effects. Alternatives such as "negligible impact" or "insignificant consequence" offer similar shades of meaning. Remember to always align usage with the actual magnitude of the effect to maintain precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible impact

Focuses on the lack of practical consequence.

insignificant consequence

Emphasizes the unimportance of the result.

minor impact

Highlights the small scale of the influence.

minimal influence

Stresses the limited scope of the effect.

slight consequence

Highlights the reduced importance of the result.

unsubstantial outcome

Indicates the lack of significance in the result.

limited result

Emphasizes the constrained nature of the effect.

marginal outcome

Highlights the small degree of the effect.

negligible result

Focuses on the insignificance of the consequence.

small effect

Highlights the size of the influence.

FAQs

How can I use "trivial effect" in a sentence?

You can use "trivial effect" to describe something that has a very small or unimportant impact. For example, "The new policy had a "trivial effect" on overall productivity."

What's the difference between "trivial effect" and "minor effect"?

"Trivial effect" suggests an almost negligible impact, while "minor effect" indicates a small but noticeable influence. Use "trivial" when the impact is essentially inconsequential.

What are some alternatives to saying "trivial effect"?

You can use alternatives like "negligible impact", "insignificant consequence", or "minimal influence" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "trivial effect" formal or informal language?

"Trivial effect" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it's more commonly found in analytical or scientific writing where precision is important. In casual conversation, simpler terms might be preferred.