a little flawed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little flawed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has minor imperfections or issues. Example: "While the design is innovative, it is a little flawed in terms of functionality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Like the fairy godmother, Babbitt's story and illustrations are wonderfully quirky, even if just a little flawed.

The New York Times - Books

Each character, central or fringe, was at worst odd, human, and even endearing; most of them were a little flawed, but no one was sinister.

The New Yorker

He can now enjoy playing out the idea of being a little flawed as a personality, but he has managed to organise this human sense of weakness and vulnerability without having to be at all Tiger Woods about it.

The Guardian - Music

Tom Daschle always seemed like a lovely man, but the idea that only he could get a big, important, dramatic health care reform through the Senate seems a little flawed, given the fact that he never got any big, important, dramatic reforms through the Senate when he was the actual majority leader.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's interesting for its DMA/Rockstar heritage, especially to fans of the original Grand Theft Auto titles, but it's a little too flawed in execution to capture the imagination of occasional mobile gamers.

The Guardian - Tech

"We are constantly battling because we're healthcare providers but we are governed by people who are public servants, creating policies on the run and changing the rules every week to fit their little flawed model.

The Guardian

Getting a little experience editing flawed writing can be a big benefit — this helps you get in the critical editor's mindset.

WikiHow

That's what I loved about playing Nora: she's a flawed heroine – a little snobbish, very upwardly mobile, but she's getting by the best she can.

The Guardian

He's full of imperfections, and having a flawed character is a little bit more interesting than having a character that always does the right thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you're looking for something not as flawed and with a little extra spice, why not give Longhorn a try?

TechCrunch

Just a little bit gothic but entirely plausible and flawed only by a little bald overstatement in the last few minutes of its hourlong running time, the play is full of perceptive commentary on the tension between affection and antipathy among friends — and the interior tensions in the individual soul between self-love and self-hate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a little flawed" to acknowledge minor imperfections without overly criticizing or dismissing something entirely. It's useful for balanced assessments.

Common error

Avoid using "a little flawed" when the imperfections are substantial or critical, as it can downplay the severity of the issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little flawed" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun has some imperfections but is not entirely ruined or defective. Ludwig AI confirms this with multiple examples where it qualifies various nouns.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Books

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a little flawed" is a useful way to acknowledge minor imperfections without being overly critical. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this adjective phrase functions to provide a balanced assessment and soften negative feedback. While it's grammatically correct and relatively common, especially in news and media contexts, it's essential to avoid using it when the flaws are significant or critical. Alternatives like "slightly imperfect" or "a bit imperfect" can be used depending on the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A bit imperfect

Synonymous, but replaces 'little' with 'bit', providing a more casual tone.

A touch flawed

Similar meaning, uses 'touch' to emphasize the small degree of imperfection.

A tad defective

Synonymous; 'tad' gives a more informal tone indicating a negligible level of flaw.

Slightly imperfect

Indicates a minor degree of imperfection, emphasizing the presence of flaws without being overly critical.

A shade imperfect

The imperfection is so slight that it is almost unnoticeable.

Somewhat defective

Suggests that something has a fault or imperfection affecting its functionality or quality to some extent.

Marginally faulty

Implies a small degree of defectiveness, highlighting that the flaw is not significant or severe.

Slightly off

Uses a more informal idiom to indicate a minor deviation from perfection or correctness.

Minimally impaired

Highlights that the flaw causes a reduction in functionality or quality, but only to a minimal extent.

Somewhat tarnished

Emphasizes that the flaw has diminished the original quality or appearance to some degree.

FAQs

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

You can use "a little flawed" to describe something that has minor imperfections. For example, "The design is innovative, but it's "a little flawed" in terms of functionality".

What are some alternatives to saying "a little flawed"?

Alternatives include "slightly imperfect", "somewhat defective", or "a bit imperfect" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a little flawed" or "slightly flawed"?

Both phrases are acceptable and have similar meanings. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific tone you want to convey. "A little" can sound slightly more informal.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "a little flawed"?

It is inappropriate when the flaws are significant or have serious consequences. In such cases, stronger terms like "deeply flawed" or "fundamentally unsound" may be more accurate.