Cool MateLittle bit of everything vs Selection
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Little bit of everything
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Selection
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Selection
| Little bit of everything | Selection | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈlɪtəl bɪt əv ˌɛvriθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈlɪtəl bɪt əv ˌɛvriθɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/sɪˈlekʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/sɪˈlekʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A small amount of several different things. | Choosing something from a group. |
| Example | At the party, I had a little bit of everything from the buffet. | The selection of participants for the study was conducted fairly. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | a little bit of everything, mix a little bit of everything, have a little bit of everything, find a little bit of everything, enjoy a little bit of everything | careful, random, initial, make, base on, win, criteria, policy, procedure, selection as, selection for, varied, wide, random, contain, include, play, selection from, selection of, broad, comprehensive, extensive, offer, find, feature, selection of |
| Antonyms | - | rejection, dismissal, exclusion |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'a' before 'little bit', Using 'little bits of everything' instead of 'little bit of everything', Confusing with 'a bit of everything', which is slightly more casual | Confused with 'selection' vs 'collection', Using 'selecting' as a noun instead of 'selection', Mixing up 'selection' with 'election' |
| Usage notes | Use in informal contexts when describing a variety of things, but avoid in formal writing. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. More common in academic writing or discussions about choices. Avoid in casual conversation unless clearly discussing options. |
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Frequently asked questions: Little bit of everything vs Selection
What's the difference between Little bit of everything and Selection?
Little bit of everything: A small amount of several different things. Selection: Choosing something from a group.
Which is more common: Little bit of everything and Selection?
Selection is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Little bit of everything: At the party, I had a little bit of everything from the buffet. Selection: The selection of participants for the study was conducted fairly.
Can I use Little bit of everything and Selection interchangeably?
Not always. Little bit of everything and Selection are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.