while minor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while minor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is of little importance or significance in the context being discussed. Example: "The changes to the report were while minor, they still improved the overall clarity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such errors, while minor, do not appear to reflect a careful and accurate intelligence operation.

The Guardian

The main oxidation product was hydroxyacetone (HA) while minor oxidation products were acetaldehyde and acetic acid.

Catalysis Today

Louder and longer shouts result in large balls, while minor exclamations are represented by smaller balls.

University of California, Berkeley

James rested comfortably on the bench for the fourth, while minor skirmishes broke out in some parts of the arena.

The New York Times - Sports

The mishaps, while minor, underscore the risks that customers face when banks wade into the fledgling world of online banking.

The New York Times

While minor stressors may function as healthy challenges that leave little or no negative effects, larger stressors make greater demands.

Cornell University

In conclusion, terpinen-4-ol is the major active component responsible for TTO's antibacterial efficacy, while minor components in TTO also contributed to its efficacy.

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

During the passage of the first longwall, stress measurements in the rock and coal detected minor changes in loading while minor changes were detected in roof deformation.

International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

Little improvement was made on effects due to variable leaf area index, while minor improvement (mostly not significant) was observed for effects of variable viewing geometry.

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer

The most popular accommodations being made, while minor in many cases, can make any home more comfortable no matter how old the owner may be.

The Washington Post

But he said more experiments were needed to test the theory, because while minor workers have smaller heads than the majors, they still have barbed spines.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while minor" to acknowledge a point but emphasize its lack of significance, allowing you to smoothly transition to a more important aspect of your argument or discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "while minor" when the minor element significantly impacts the overall situation. Ensure the contrast is genuine, and the 'minor' aspect truly has limited consequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while minor" functions as an adverbial clause of concession. It introduces a contrasting or qualifying element to the main statement, acknowledging something potentially contradictory but ultimately downplaying its significance. Ludwig examples demonstrate this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

36%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "while minor" serves as a useful tool to acknowledge a detail or fact, simultaneously downplaying its importance relative to the main subject. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely used across diverse fields like science, news, and academia. While "while minor" is frequent, consider related phrases like "although small" or "despite being trivial" to enhance your writing. Be sure to use the phrase accurately, ensuring the element described as 'minor' genuinely has limited impact. Utilizing these guidelines will improve clarity and precision in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

although small

Replaces "while" with "although" and "minor" with "small", maintaining the concessive meaning.

even though insignificant

Emphasizes the lack of significance using different vocabulary.

despite being trivial

Uses "despite being" to introduce the triviality of something.

though not substantial

Replaces "minor" with "not substantial", indicating a lack of importance.

whilst being marginal

A more formal alternative, using "whilst" and "marginal".

in spite of the minimal

Expresses contrast using "in spite of" and "minimal".

notwithstanding its pettiness

A more emphatic and formal expression of concession.

however slight

A concise way to indicate a contrast despite something being small.

albeit unsubstantial

Using "albeit" provides a concise and slightly formal alternative.

even if nominal

Indicates concession using "even if" and "nominal".

FAQs

How can I use "while minor" in a sentence?

Use "while minor" to introduce a fact or detail that is less important than the main point you're discussing. For example, "While minor inaccuracies exist, the report's overall conclusion remains valid."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "while minor"?

Alternatives include "although small", "even though insignificant", or "despite being trivial", each offering a slightly different nuance while conveying a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to use "while minor" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The "while" functions as a subordinating conjunction, introducing a clause that contrasts with the main clause. The phrase "while minor" should be followed by a comma before the main clause.

How does the meaning of "while minor" differ from "although significant"?

"While minor" indicates that something is of little importance, whereas "although significant" suggests that something is important despite another contrasting fact. They convey opposite meanings regarding the importance of the element being discussed.