a slight contribution to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight contribution to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small or minor input or addition to a project, discussion, or effort. Example: "Her research provided a slight contribution to the overall findings of the study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

With military spending flat, government agencies made only a slight contribution to growth.

The New York Times

Large amounts of public and private investment are going into solar, wind and biofuel development, but so far they are making only a slight contribution to energy supplies.

The New York Times

As the knocking down of genes co-amplified with dhfr showed only a slight contribution to MTX sensitivity, we focused in three genes that were clearly overexpressed in the resistant cells and located in different chromosomes, namely caveolin 1 CAV1), enolase 2 (ENO2) and PKCα.

BMC Medical Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

At first sight, this should mean only a slight contribution of glycolysis to ATP synthesis in the liver.

BMC Physiology

On the other hand, when glycolysis was previously inhibited by IAA (0.5 mmol/L; 2 min), we observed a slight decrease in ATP content to a new steady state reached within 10 min. This decrease accounted for a maximum of 10% of the initial ATP content, indicating a slight contribution of glycolysis to total ATP synthesis.

BMC Physiology

Nonetheless, those isolates presenting the mph(A) together with another MRG ranked among those most resistant and less affected by the addition of PAβN, suggesting a slight contribution of other MRGs to final MIC levels when mph(A) gene is present.

Nature

Importantly, our data also suggest a slight contribution of the 3′ss to this process (80% in IVSΔ5′ss and 95% in IVSmut).

EMBO Reports

As illustrated in Figure S2 (pink plot), the platinum inner layer of the micromotors has a slight contribution on the oxidation of Rh6G, leading to a 10% oxidization of dye after 5 h with Ti/Pt micromotors.

ACS Nano

At higher temperatures around 1200 1500 °C, the activation energy increased up to 162 ± 22 kJ/mol level, which could be an indication of a slight contribution from the volume diffusion [6, 21, 22].

Nanoscale Research Letters

A slight contribution of the arch effect was also evidenced with a direction of the shear cracks lower than 45° angle.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering (IJASE)

Posner suggests that although Hand is remembered today as one of the three greatest judges in American history, his status as a truly "great judge" was not based on his "slight" contributions to First Amendment jurisprudence or other fields of constitutional law, but rather on his decisions in other areas such as antitrust, intellectual property, and tort law.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slight contribution to", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being contributed to and why its impact is considered small. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the statement's credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight contribution to" when the contribution is actually substantial. Overstating the insignificance can undermine your credibility and misrepresent the true impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight contribution to" functions as a modifier, specifically as a qualifier, indicating that the noun it precedes has made a small or minimal impact on something else. Ludwig AI validates this usage through examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight contribution to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that has a small or minimal impact. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides real-world examples demonstrating its usage across science, news, and formal contexts. While the phrase is not extremely common, it serves a specific communicative purpose: to acknowledge a contribution while managing expectations about its significance. Alternatives like "a minor addition to" or "a small part of" can be used to convey similar meanings. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clarifies what is being contributed to, avoiding overstatements about its insignificance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A minor addition to

Replaces "slight" with "minor", emphasizing the small size of the contribution.

A small part of

Focuses on the contribution as being a limited fraction of a larger whole.

A marginal effect on

Highlights the limited impact or influence of the contribution.

A minimal impact on

Emphasizes the insignificance of the contribution's effect.

A limited role in

Indicates that the contribution's function or involvement is restricted.

A negligible factor in

Suggests that the contribution is so small as to be almost unimportant.

A token contribution to

Implies that the contribution is made more for appearance than for substantial effect.

A symbolic gesture toward

Highlights that the contribution is primarily symbolic and lacks significant practical effect.

A supplementary element in

Positions the contribution as an extra, non-essential component.

An incremental improvement to

Focuses on the contribution as creating a gradual, small betterment.

FAQs

How can I use "a slight contribution to" in a sentence?

Use "a slight contribution to" when you want to indicate that something had a small or minor impact on something else. For example, "Her research provided "a slight contribution to" the overall findings of the study".

What are some alternatives to "a slight contribution to"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor addition to", "a small part of", or "a marginal effect on" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a slight contribution to"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge a contribution without exaggerating its importance. It suggests that the factor played a role, but not a dominant one.

Is "a slight contribution to" formal or informal?

The phrase "a slight contribution to" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as it is widely understood and grammatically correct. The context of the surrounding sentences determines the register.