trivial issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"trivial issue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is not important or difficult. For example, "It was a trivial issue, so we decided not to worry about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

This is not a trivial issue.

The New Yorker

Still, this is a trivial issue.

The New York Times - Tech

This is also not a trivial issue.

The Guardian - Opinion

The right to counsel was not a trivial issue here.

The New York Times

It is a grossly trivial issue and misrepresents what the minister's blog is.

The Guardian - Opinion

But now that protectionism is a trivial issue, what will economists inveigh against?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Energy-efficient building design is a non-trivial issue involving a number of interdependent design criteria.

International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment

It remains to deal with a non-trivial issue, namely the entropy is not Lipschitz on the simplex!

Princeton University

How tens of thousands of club-goers would pay for their drugs each Saturday night is a non-trivial issue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then there's the non-trivial issue of transcoding the signal from RF (Radio Frequency) to a streaming video format.

Huffington Post

The possible applicability of A4 to specific in-vivo situations is a non-trivial issue, see the Discussion section.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider if a synonym like "minor concern" or "insignificant matter" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "trivial issue" excessively in formal or professional writing. Overuse can make your assessment seem dismissive or disrespectful. Instead, opt for more neutral terms like "minor concern" or "less significant aspect" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trivial issue" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is acceptable in written English. It describes something unimportant or of little consequence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

40%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trivial issue" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something of little importance. According to Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for general use, though may be too dismissive for formal settings where alternatives like "minor concern" might be more appropriate. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, this noun phrase serves to downplay the significance of a problem or argument. Remember to consider your audience and context when using this phrase to avoid sounding disrespectful or dismissive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unimportant detail

Directly states that the detail has no importance.

insignificant matter

Emphasizes the lack of consequence or impact of the issue.

small matter

A general phrase indicating a lack of importance.

minor concern

Focuses more on the aspect of worry or attention needed, rather than the importance of the problem itself.

petty problem

Highlights the small-minded or unimportant nature of the issue.

trifling matter

Indicates the matter is so unimportant as to be ridiculous.

inconsequential detail

Focuses on the issue being a small and unimportant part of something larger.

negligible detail

Emphasizes that the detail is so small it can be ignored.

minor snag

Describes a small problem that can be easily fixed.

secondary detail

Highlights that the issue has lower importance than main details.

FAQs

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

You can use "trivial issue" to describe a problem or concern that is not important or serious. For instance, "The delay was due to a "trivial issue" with the software, which was quickly resolved."

What are some synonyms for "trivial issue"?

Some synonyms for "trivial issue" include "minor concern", "insignificant matter", or "petty problem". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "trivial issue" in formal writing?

While "trivial issue" is grammatically correct, it may sound dismissive in some formal contexts. Consider using a more neutral alternative like "minor concern" or "less significant aspect" for a more professional tone.

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

Both "trivial issue" and "minor issue" refer to something unimportant, but "trivial" suggests even less significance than "minor". Use "trivial" when the issue is almost negligible.