a mildly sweet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mildly sweet" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a flavor or taste that has a slight sweetness, often in the context of food or beverages. Example: "The dessert had a mildly sweet flavor that complemented the tartness of the berries."

✓ Grammatically correct

Food descriptions

Flavor profiles

Describing taste

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

It has a mildly sweet tang, with firm pulp surrounding an edible, but bitter, seed.

The New York Times - Food

The crust was medium-thick, crisp, with a mildly sweet taste.

The New York Times

Unlike traditional smoked salmon, this is dense and firm, with a mildly sweet flavor offset by a coating of coarsely ground black pepper.

The New York Times - Travel

The meat half of Millstone's steak frites consists of a tender cut of hanger steak, grilled rare and served sliced over a mildly sweet molé sauce, authentically spiced with cumin, cinnamon, chili peppers and a dash of cocoa.

The New York Times

Hence, the frequent designation of dishes as "ma-la," as in the excellent ma-la cold noodles ($3.50), thin noodles in peppery, lively sauce with a mildly sweet sesame flavor.

The New York Times - Food

Well on their way to earning a reputation as the food insider's raisins, dried white mulberries have a mildly sweet and, to quote Mike Price of Market Table in New York, almost "bubble-gum-like" flavor.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Her most exotic variant is tahu isi: dense tofu blocks topped with minced shrimp and chicken, then sheathed in a mildly sweet-and-sour peanut sauce.

Los Angeles Times

Both dishes combine a nice charred taste with a light, mildly sweet sauce.

The New York Times

Here, it adds punch to a light, mildly sweet, yet deeply flavoured soup, though I've simplified the recipe a little for this dish.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In any case, industry(food)'s version is correct, supplemented by a nice, mildly sweet hijiki salad.

The New York Times - Food

The new wood imbues the mellow, unctuous scotch with a spicy, mildly sweet vanilla and smoky oaky note.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food or beverages, use "a mildly sweet" to indicate a gentle sweetness that doesn't overpower other flavors. This term is particularly effective when you want to emphasize balance and subtlety.

Common error

Avoid using "a mildly sweet" to describe non-food items or experiences where sweetness isn't a relevant attribute. Stick to its primary use: flavor profiles and taste descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mildly sweet" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, primarily used to qualify nouns related to taste and flavor. Ludwig provides examples where it describes food items, sauces, and wines, indicating its role in sensory descriptions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mildly sweet" is a descriptive phrase used to characterize the taste of something as gently sweet. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in describing food, beverages, and other flavor profiles. While the phrase is versatile, it's best suited for contexts where sweetness is a relevant attribute, and overusing it in unsuitable situations should be avoided. The phrase strikes a balance in conveying flavor without being overly intense, as showcased in examples from reliable sources such as The New York Times and Forbes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly sweet

Emphasizes a minimal level of sweetness.

Barely sweet

Highlights the subtlety of the sweetness, almost to the point of being negligible.

Lightly sweetened

Focuses on the action of sweetening in a restrained manner.

Delicately sweet

Suggests a refined and gentle sweetness.

Subtly sweet

Implies an understated sweetness that requires attention to notice.

Faintly sweet

Indicates a weak or hardly perceptible sweetness.

Gently sweet

Conveys a soft and pleasant sweetness.

Moderately sweet

Describes a balanced sweetness that is neither overwhelming nor faint.

Softly sweet

Highlights the smoothness and mildness of the sweetness.

Somewhat sweet

General term indicating a degree of sweetness that is not intense.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a mildly sweet"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly sweet", "lightly sweetened", or "delicately sweet" depending on the context.

How do I use "a mildly sweet" in a sentence?

"A mildly sweet" is best used to describe the taste or flavor of something. For example: "The sauce had a mildly sweet taste that complemented the spicy meat."

Which is correct, "a mildly sweet" or "mildly sweet"?

Both "mildly sweet" and "a mildly sweet" can be correct depending on the context. "Mildly sweet" is an adjective phrase that directly modifies a noun, while "a mildly sweet" can be used when describing a quality or characteristic. For example, "It was mildly sweet" or "It had a mildly sweet flavor".

What's the difference between "a mildly sweet" and "a slightly sweet"?

The difference is subtle but significant. "A mildly sweet" suggests a noticeable but gentle sweetness, while "a slightly sweet" implies an even more subtle and almost imperceptible sweetness.