a little behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little behind" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is a small amount behind schedule or expected. For example, "I'm a little behind on my work this week, but I'm sure I'll catch up soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"He might be a little behind.

The New York Times - Sports

We're a little behind here".

The New York Times

Its tale just lags a little behind.

The New Yorker

Ben meandered a little behind, keeping Bryan in sight.

Stanford University

And so I'm just a little behind schedule".

The New York Times

It's a little behind, but anything Western is popular.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I'm a little behind with this tech stuff".

The New York Times - Tech

"That's where I think we're a little behind".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

OK well, that's a little behind-the-scenes look.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And how about a little behind-the-back? .

Huffington Post

Can you give us a little behind-the-scenes story here?

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a small degree of lateness or lack of progress, use "a little behind" to soften the impact. For example, instead of saying "The project is late", say "The project is a little behind schedule".

Common error

Avoid using "a little behind" in highly formal or critical situations where precision is crucial. Opt for more precise terms like "slightly delayed" or "marginally late" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little behind" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the degree to which something is delayed or lagging. As demonstrated in the Ludwig examples, it qualifies the extent of being behind, softening the statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little behind" is a common and versatile phrase used to express a slight delay or incompletion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. When writing, remember to use it to soften statements about lateness, but avoid it in highly formal or precise situations. For those contexts, alternatives like "slightly delayed" or "marginally late" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A bit off schedule

Highlights that something deviates slightly from the planned timetable.

Slightly delayed

Focuses on the temporal aspect of being behind, emphasizing a minor delay.

A touch behind

Uses "touch" to soften the statement and indicate a minimal delay.

Somewhat lagging

Highlights the idea of falling behind in terms of progress or performance.

Slightly trailing

Implies following behind, but only by a small margin.

Barely lagging

Stresses the minimal extent of falling behind.

Marginally late

Emphasizes the lateness aspect, but to a small degree.

Somewhat overdue

Emphasizes that something is past its expected time, but not significantly.

Just a tad slow

Uses informal language to convey a slight lack of speed or progress.

Not quite on par

Indicates being slightly below the expected level or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "a little behind" in a sentence?

You can use "a little behind" to indicate a slight delay or being not quite up to date. For instance, "I'm "a little behind" on the latest news" or "The project is "a little behind" schedule".

What is a more formal alternative to "a little behind"?

For more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "slightly delayed", "marginally late", or "somewhat lagging". These options provide a more professional tone than ""a little behind"".

Is it correct to say "a little behind on" something?

Yes, it's perfectly correct to use "a little behind on" followed by the subject you're referring to. For example, "I'm "a little behind on" my reading list" or "We're "a little behind on" our targets this quarter".

What's the difference between "a little behind" and "behind schedule"?

"Behind schedule" indicates a general state of being late, while ""a little behind"" suggests a minor delay or being only slightly late. The latter softens the impact and implies the situation is not too severe.