a slight discrepancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight discrepancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small difference or inconsistency in data, information, or measurements. Example: "After reviewing the reports, I noticed a slight discrepancy in the figures presented by the two departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

In addition, a slight discrepancy is found in the contact of an elastically dissimilar case.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

That would suggest there have been five deaths, a slight discrepancy from the F.D.A. figures that was not explained.

The New York Times

While McCarthy says that power storage is evolving significantly, he concedes that there remains a "slight discrepancy" in the event of such shortfalls.

The Guardian

Our proposed model shows a slight discrepancy when compared with experimental data and gives a better understanding of phase equilibria dependence on the chain length of the polymer.

Polymer

The results (respectively 5.8 × 10−07 and 4.8 × 10−07 kg/(m2 Pa s1/2) show a slight discrepancy between values obtained from steady-state and from dynamic conditions.

Construction and Building Materials

The diffusion has been compared with the conductivity by applying the Nernst-Einstein relation: a slight discrepancy is found for Li(CF3SO3 PEG10, while the agreement is very good for LiN CF3SO2 2PEG10.

Polymer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

A lawsuit filed by civil rights groups on Thursday accused Kemp of seeking to disenfranchise more than 50,000 voters, up to 80% of them minority voters, by suspending voters from registration rolls if records held by various state agencies show any slight discrepancy in how a voter's name is hyphenated, spelled or spaced.

The Guardian

a. Slight discrepancy in n due to availability of teacher diagnosis.

British Journal of Psychiatry

For the classes selected for Table 2, the maximum likelihood estimates are slightly higher than those shown, and lead to a slight (apparent) discrepancy between the theoretical model distribution and the observed genome distribution.

BMC Genomics

The slight discrepancy of the number of inversions between A- and B-genome chromosomes could be due to the genetic variation of the different accessions/species used in the mapping population development.

BMC Genomics

The slight discrepancy could be attributed to a little mismatch of the effective lengths.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Quantify the "slight discrepancy" with specific numbers or percentages when possible to provide greater clarity and precision to the reader.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the importance of "a slight discrepancy". If the difference is truly minor, focus on the overall agreement or similarity, rather than dwelling on the trivial variation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight discrepancy" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It introduces the idea of a minor difference or inconsistency. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

29%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight discrepancy" is a versatile phrase used to denote a minor difference or inconsistency across various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and readily usable in written English. Its application spans scientific research, news reporting, and academic discourse, indicating its wide acceptability. While quantifying the discrepancy can enhance clarity, avoiding overemphasis is crucial. Alternatives such as "a minor difference" or "a small inconsistency" can be used to convey similar meanings, tailoring the language to the specific context. The frequency analysis shows that it's most common in science and news media. Overall, "a slight discrepancy" is a useful tool for expressing small deviations while maintaining a balanced perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor difference

Replaces "discrepancy" with a more general term for difference, softening the implication of an error.

a small inconsistency

Substitutes "discrepancy" with "inconsistency", highlighting the lack of uniformity.

a marginal variation

Emphasizes the small degree of change or deviation.

a negligible deviation

Focuses on the insignificance of the departure from an expected value.

a trivial difference

Indicates the difference is not important or worth considering.

a modest disparity

Replaces "discrepancy" with disparity, implying a less severe imbalance.

a faint divergence

Highlights the beginning of a separation or difference.

a subtle variation

Emphasizes the delicate and not immediately obvious nature of the difference.

a hairline fracture

A metaphorical comparison that stresses how small the difference is.

a shade of difference

Highlights the fine nuances between two elements.

FAQs

How can I use "a slight discrepancy" in a sentence?

You can use "a slight discrepancy" to point out a minor difference between two sets of data, results, or expectations. For example, "There was "a slight discrepancy" between the predicted and actual sales figures."

What can I say instead of "a slight discrepancy"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor difference", "a small inconsistency", or "a marginal variation" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a slight discrepancy"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge a small difference without overemphasizing it, suggesting the difference is not significant enough to cause concern or require major adjustments.

Is there a difference between "a slight discrepancy" and "a major discrepancy"?

Yes, ""a slight discrepancy"" indicates a small, often negligible difference, while "a major discrepancy" suggests a significant difference that could have important implications or consequences.