a slight indication

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight indication" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small or subtle hint or sign of something. Example: "The weather forecast gave a slight indication of rain later in the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

6. Né-Net The store's eye-catching windows, which recently showed mannequins in Mexican wrestling masks and tent dresses, are only a slight indication of the fashion inside.

The New York Times - Style

But if the opening leader has the queen, he never leads a trump, so the absence of a trump lead is a slight indication that the vital queen is on the left.

The New York Times - Arts

They gave a slight indication of their potential with a bronze in Belgrade, although they finished outside the medals in regattas in Lucerne and Munich.

BBC

"Not only is past performance no guarantee of future performance," he says, "but there's a slight indication that high-flier funds do really horribly the year after".

Forbes

The second endothermic phase transition of non-irradiated gelatin took place near 155 °C that was assigned to the glass transition followed by a slight indication for exothermic crystallization at 201 °C.

Progress in Biomaterials

There is also a slight indication of lower employment in the longer period leading up to the minimum wage increases, but there is nonetheless a distinct downward shift subsequently.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

For each 2-year interval past Years 1 and 2, and despite considerable variation in relapse frequency and slight indication of an impact beyond Year 2, no significant effect of relapse frequency for individual 2-year blocks could be found.

Brain

There are some slight indications that students who successfully completed an intermediate level of secondary education attained the largest improvements in this domain.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

But there are slight indications that some conservatives have awakened to the reality that not only does starve-the-beast not work, but it also leads to higher spending.

The New York Times

But since, at heart, he's a nice, reasonably bright guy who's simply a big fish in a dry pond, the only explanation for his gullibility is plot convenience, although there are slight indications that boredom and laziness also account for his fallibility.

The New York Times

No less than the Oxford Dictionary has a definition for the term: "The putative ability of homosexuals to recognize one another intuitively or by means of very slight indications, " or, "the putative ability of heterosexuals to discern the homosexuality of others".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slight indication" when you want to convey that there's a small or subtle sign, but not definitive proof, of something. It suggests a tentative observation that needs further investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight indication" when the evidence is actually strong or conclusive. Doing so can undermine the validity of your argument or observation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight indication" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It points to something that gives a small amount of information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a slight indication" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to express a subtle hint or sign of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, it serves to cautiously present limited evidence, warranting further exploration. While various semantically related alternatives exist such as "a hint of" or "a suggestion of", it's crucial to avoid overstating the significance when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a faint sign of

Uses "sign" to replace "indication", while retaining the subtlety.

a hint of

Focuses on the subtle suggestive nature, removing "indication".

a suggestion of

Replaces "indication" with "suggestion", highlighting a less direct pointer.

a subtle clue of

Focuses on the understated nature of the evidence.

a trace of

Emphasizes a minimal amount or sign, different word choice.

a glimmer of

Conveys a fleeting and faint sign, substituting with a more visual term.

a mere suggestion

Highlights the insignificance and possibility of dismissal of the pointer.

a suspicion of

Highlights a speculative element, altering the nuance.

a tenuous sign

Underlines the possibility of weakness of the pointer.

a shadow of a doubt

Implies a minimal uncertainty or question, shifting the context.

FAQs

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

Use "a slight indication" to express a subtle hint or sign. For example, "There was "a slight indication" of rain in the forecast".

What are some alternatives to "a slight indication"?

You can use alternatives like "a hint of", "a suggestion of", or "a faint sign of" depending on the context.

Is "a slight indication" formal or informal?

"A slight indication" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.

What is the difference between "a slight indication" and "a strong indication"?

"A slight indication" refers to a subtle or weak sign, while "a strong indication" suggests a more definitive or compelling piece of evidence.