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So I just commented (tried to, the answer turned out to have been deleted) on an answer and wrote this: "I also feel that the disclaimer was just a tincy wincy bit unnecessary". I then though to change it to this : "I also feel that the disclaimer was just a tinsy, wincy, littlest bit unnecessary".

I then thought that the 'a' should/could change to 'the' as in "I also feel that the disclaimer was just 'the' tinsy, wincy, littlest bit unnecessary". However I then realized I didn't actually really know which one it should be... In my mind at least, both seemed to be correct.

A slightly dumb and mundane question but still, it got my gears grinding a little bit so I thought to come here for some internet ultimate wisdom. Also in an afterthought: what's the correct use of commas within this quote?

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  • I'm probably being too pedantic, considering the usual something of a mess I write. Perhaps nit picking is pointless :)
    – Edward G-Jones
    Commented Jan 23, 2014 at 11:28
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    You're suffering from semantic satiation. So go with your original version, which was perfectly fine.
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Jan 23, 2014 at 11:36
  • I kinda like the 'semantic satiation' it conveys a sort of playfulness I'm going for. Are you saying that the 'semantic satiation' illegitimises the sentence so therefor correct grammar doesn't really come into play?
    – Edward G-Jones
    Commented Jan 23, 2014 at 11:39

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I think that it should be "the" instead of "a " because it says littlest not little.

Comma wise,there should only be 1. This comma is after tinsy wincey and before littlest- tinsy wincy is a phrase and therefore should stay together.It would be like saying something is on the small side;you wouldn't put a comma between the words.

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Generally speaking, the article should match the first in the list of adjectives:

The disclaimer was just a tinsy, wincy, littlest bit unnecessary.

But normally you would want them all to match, anyway:

The disclaimer was just the tinsiest, winciest, littlest bit unnecessary.

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