A modification is described of the singular value decomposition (SVD) method suitable for underdetermined linear least squares (LLS). When a set of data to be fitted is incomplete and does not allow an independent determination of all model parameters, the modified method automatically merges a previously available approximate solution into the LLS results. The solution so produced is more appropriate to the particular problem than the usual SVD solution, while still being a LLS estimate of the whole set of parameters. The method is discussed with reference to the LLS determination of unit‐cell dimensions during the step‐by‐step assignment ofh,k,lindices of a diffraction pa