Difference Between Miner And Minor

A miner is a noun, meaning a person who works in a mine.  A mine is an excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals, such as coal, iron, gold, diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones, are extracted. Mines can be excavated either underground or on the surface.  To be a miner can be a very dangerous profession.  Here are some sentences using the word “miner”.

• The coal miners went on ​strike to ​try to ​save their ​jobs. 
• John was ​leader of the miners’ ​union. 
• Three generations of the males in Colin’s family were miners. 
• An explosion in an eastern Kentucky coal mine killed five miners yesterday while one other miner was able to get out alive. 
• The narrow mine shafts (passages) meant miners often had to work on their sides by candlelight. 
• Rescuers are frantically trying to reach more than 40 miners trapped in a coal mine that is filling fast with water. 
• The iron ore miners of Wales are once again jobless as their factory has closed down. 
• Diamond miners in South Africa enjoy better safety features than anywhere else in the world. 
• The miners were trapped for days in the shaft as the walls of their escape route had collapsed. 
• A coal miner’s life is full of danger to life and to health.

On the other hand, the word minor can be a noun or an adjective or even a verb.  “Minor” as an adjective means something not very important or valuable, not very serious, or not causing much trouble or damage.  Below are sentences using “minor” as an adjective.

• Maria had a minor stroke last week but she is back on her feet now. 
• The earthquake was not very serious.  Minor tremors were felt but they did not result in any major damage. 
• She played a minor role in the Broadway production of “My Fair Lady”. 
• Paul had a minor injury playing football despite which he scored the winning goal. 
• Don’t fret over minor setbacks in your career.  Sooner or later you will rise to a high position. 
• Minor cuts and bruises are all part of a little boy’s life. 
• Ladies and gentlemen, there is a minor delay of 15 minutes in the departure of the flight to New York. 
• My feelings in your chosen field of work are of minor importance.  I just want you to be happy. 
• A minor fire in the building forced us to evacuate the premises but fortunately there was very little damage. 
• There was a minor change in my blood pressure but the doctor assured me it was nothing to worry about. 

A minor can also be a noun, referring to a person  who is not yet old enough to have the rights of an adult and has not yet completed 18 years of age.  All children are minors, and persons under 18 years are subject to parental control.  As far as drinking alcohol is concerned, the age limit is higher.  In most countries, the voting age starts at 18 years.  The use of “minor” as a noun is illustrated below.

• Peter was unable to get a driving licence since he was still a minor. 
• Minors are not allowed to enter a pub or a bar. 
• Minors are subject to security checks just like adults. 
• Minors are not allowed to watch X-rated movies. 
• Joan got custody of her daughter who was a minor, but her older son who was 20 chose to live his father. 
•  Minors were separated from their parents at the concentration camp. 
• A minor cannot decide which school he or she would like to attend. 
• Child labour is exploitation of minors.

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