a slight favourite

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight favourite" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing preferences or predictions, particularly in contexts like sports, betting, or competitions where one option is considered marginally more likely to succeed than another. Example: "In the upcoming match, Team A is a slight favourite to win against Team B, according to the latest odds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Mr Banda is a slight favourite.

The Economist

Last night bookies continued to have Avatar as a slight favourite in the race for the best picture statuette.

The Guardian - Film

But Flanagan at his best might start a slight favourite against an opponent he likes and respects.

The Guardian - Sport

But, with her long established negatives, Hillary will never be more than a slight favourite, whoever the Republicans field against her and that is the best case scenario.

The Economist

DeGale and Sutherland go at it first, and the Dubliner, who nearly lost an eye in a bout two years ago, deserves be a slight favourite.

The Guardian - Sport

He might even start a slight favourite at the Australian Open in January after seeing off the best players in the world in the season's closing tournament.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

And even small schemes, if they multiply across the country, can add up to a culture change.David Miliband, the slight favourite to win the Labour Party's ongoing leadership contest, openly mourns the last government's failure to trust people more.

The Economist

Manny is a gooner! pic.twitter.com/48M88B5OYG The bookmakers' have gone with the undefeated Mayweather as the slight favourite for the clash, with the experts generally tipping a points victory in the American's favour.

Independent

Hughes, slight favourite over Ryan Moore to sign off with a fourth successive seasonal jockeys' title, was thrilled to get on this year's scoresheet at the royal meeting at last and the fact that the win was for his brother-in-law Hannon greatly added to the moments.

Independent

Yet Ms Walsh, the slight favourite of the women, said that while victory would be a "dream come true," she was realistic about her chances.

Independent

The American will be the slight favourite.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slight favourite" when you want to indicate a mild preference or expectation of success, but acknowledge that the outcome is not guaranteed. It's suitable for scenarios where the difference in likelihood is small.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight favourite" when the actual difference in likelihood is significant. If one option is clearly much more likely to succeed, choose a stronger term to reflect the reality of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight favourite" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object. It describes someone or something with a marginal advantage or expectation of success. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

9%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slight favourite" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to denote a narrow margin of advantage or preference. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, according to Ludwig, it serves to communicate nuanced predictions or expectations. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is usable and correct. When using this phrase, ensure that the degree of favoritism is genuinely slight to avoid overstating the case. Alternatives like "a marginal favorite" or "slightly preferred" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly preferred

Simplifies the phrase to 'slightly preferred', maintaining the core meaning.

a marginal favorite

Replaces 'slight' with 'marginal', emphasizing a small degree of favoritism.

a narrow favorite

Substitutes 'slight' with 'narrow', highlighting the small difference in preference.

a mild favorite

Uses 'mild' instead of 'slight' to convey a gentle or moderate preference.

a somewhat favored contender

Replaces 'favourite' with 'favored contender', adding a more formal tone.

a moderately favored option

Employs 'moderately favored option' to express a balanced and reasoned preference.

a touch preferred

Uses 'a touch preferred' as a more concise and informal alternative.

marginally ahead

Replaces the entire phrase with 'marginally ahead', focusing on the leading position.

just ahead

A simpler and more direct way of saying someone is "just ahead" in a competition.

a shade better

Employs 'a shade better' to express a very subtle advantage.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight favourite" to indicate that someone or something is expected to win or be preferred by a small margin. For example, "The home team is "a slight favourite" to win the game".

What's the difference between "a slight favourite" and "the favorite"?

"A slight favourite" implies a narrow margin of preference or expectation, while "the favorite" suggests a more substantial advantage. The term "the favorite" indicates a stronger expectation of success.

Are there any synonyms for "a slight favourite"?

Yes, some synonyms for "a slight favourite" include "a marginal favorite", "a narrow favorite", or "slightly preferred". These alternatives convey a similar meaning of a small degree of preference.

In what contexts is "a slight favourite" commonly used?

"A slight favourite" is often used in contexts such as sports, elections, or competitions where there's an expectation of someone or something winning by a small margin. You will find it frequently in "news and media" reports when discussing predictions.