a slight deviation from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight deviation from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how one thing differs from another in small but notable ways. For example: "The new policy represented a slight deviation from the traditional approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

The data demonstrated a slight deviation from the nationally calibrated models.

Transportation Geotechnics

At this time petitioner was not represented by counsel and there was a slight deviation from a strictly accurate compliance with the court's directive.

Cornell University

The cell volume of Li2Fe1��yMnyP2O7 increases vs. Mn content with a slight deviation from the linearity.

Electrochimica Acta

In that work, the authors showed that a slight deviation from the ideal measurement settings can inadvertently introduce additional dimensions in the measured state, enabling the apparent measurement of a Bell parameter above the Tsirelson bound.

Nature

This took place over years, it was not a single occurrence, which is a slight deviation from "normal" breaches.

Forbes

The theoretical calculations predicted a slight deviation from coplanarity between these two rings.

Chemistry Central Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

The engineering stress-strain curve is nearly linearity, however, a slight deviation away from linearity could be noted in the end of engineering stress-strain curve, which is attributed that the extra elastic deformation results in part of continued deformation.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Only a slight deviation of the receiver from a beam disrupted the steady tone, and the direction in which the craft was off the beam was indicated by the predominance of one Morse character or the other.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For strong independent noise and a strong sensory signal we observe a slight deviation of the theory from simulation results, as well as slight differences between the two models.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience (JMN)

It's a pleasant, if slight, deviation from whatever metal-on-metal sound packs have been circulating the Abletons of the '89+ crowd.

Vice

Although there are different opinions explaining the origin of the emission bands and the nature of the optical transition is unclear, the WO42− complex and the slight deviation from a perfect crystal structure are believed to be responsible for the emission bands.

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slight deviation from", ensure that the context clearly establishes the original standard or expected norm. This provides a frame of reference for understanding the deviation's significance.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight deviation from" when the difference is actually substantial. Using it for significant changes can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight deviation from" functions as a modifier, specifically serving to qualify the degree to which something differs from a norm or standard. It's used to indicate a small alteration or departure, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

28%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slight deviation from" is a versatile tool for indicating small differences while maintaining a focus on underlying similarities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in academic, scientific, and news contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the point of reference is clear and avoid using it to downplay genuinely significant differences. Alternatives such as "a minor departure from" or "a small divergence from" offer subtle variations in meaning, allowing for greater precision in your writing. Remember to maintain a neutral tone and avoid exaggerating or misrepresenting the scale of the difference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor departure from

Replaces "deviation" with "departure", emphasizing the act of moving away slightly from something.

a small divergence from

Uses "divergence" instead of "deviation", highlighting the idea of branching off in a slightly different direction.

a subtle alteration to

Changes the structure to focus on the alteration made, rather than the act of deviating.

a marginal difference from

Emphasizes the small size of the difference using "marginal".

a modest variation from

Replaces "deviation" with "variation", suggesting a change within acceptable limits.

a negligible change from

Highlights that the change is so small it's almost insignificant.

a fractional shift from

Uses "fractional shift" to indicate a tiny movement away from the original.

a hair's breadth away from

Idiomatic expression indicating a very small distance or difference.

a tad different than

Informal phrasing indicating a small difference.

barely distinguishable from

Highlights the difficulty in noticing the change.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a slight deviation from" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "a minor departure from", "a small divergence from", or "a subtle alteration to" depending on the desired nuance.

What does "a slight deviation from" imply about the difference?

It suggests that the difference is small, barely noticeable, or not particularly important. It indicates that something is mostly the same, but with a minor alteration.

When is it appropriate to use "a slight deviation from" in writing?

Use it when you want to downplay the importance of a change or highlight the similarity between two things despite a minor difference. It is suitable for technical descriptions, comparisons, and analyses where precision is important.

What's the difference between "a slight deviation from" and "a significant departure from"?

"A slight deviation from" indicates a small, often unimportant difference, while "a significant departure from" suggests a substantial and noteworthy change. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to convey.