a slight pattern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight pattern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor or subtle trend or arrangement in data, behavior, or design. Example: "Upon reviewing the results, I noticed a slight pattern emerging in the participants' responses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Powers settles on a blue-gray suit, black shoes and "a blue tie with a slight pattern of light dots".

The New York Times - Books

It is important to note here a slight pattern of incongruence between the morphological and molecular results, with respect to C. crossleyi and C. major.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

For the cpSSR data, the first Mantel test among all individuals showed a slight pattern of isolation by distance, although the slope was nearly equal to zero (y = 0.0016x + 3.2762; R = 0.0051, p <0.0001).

BMC Plant Biology

This group is not GC-skewed in the promoter, but shows a slight pattern of increasing G-bias in the gene, which does not extend into the 3' UTR.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

We recorded a significant, although slight, pattern of isolation by distance for the set of localities sampled; however, we noticed that this pattern seems mainly driven by distances from the most distant localities.

AoB PLANTS

Histopathologic examination of BL showed a distinct starry-sky pattern caused by interspersed tangible body macrophages and a diffuse monotonous infiltrate of medium-sized cells with a slight molding pattern.

Annals of Hematology

In Iteration 2, a slight cyclic pattern is observed.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

It's an interesting phenomenon, given the companies are still quite different, but shows how these large companies are on a slight convergence pattern.

TechCrunch

Conclusions: Diabetic children and adolescents show a slight negative pattern of spine mineralization, which does not depend on metabolic control and microvascular complications.

Bone

A slight geographic pattern of structure was detected especially in the cpSSR analysis.

BMC Plant Biology

At diagnosis of the IMC, radiological evaluation of the thorax revealed only a slight interstitial pattern in case 1, but no evidence of thoracic metastasis was found in any cat.

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data or observations, use "a slight pattern" to accurately portray a trend that is present but not overwhelmingly significant. This avoids exaggeration and maintains credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight pattern" when the evidence suggests a stronger or more definitive trend. Overusing it can weaken your argument and imply uncertainty where it doesn't exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight pattern" functions as a noun phrase, where "slight" modifies the noun "pattern". It typically serves to describe a trend, arrangement, or design that is present but not strongly pronounced. Ludwig AI confirms this with multiple examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

77%

News & Media

16%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a slight pattern" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a subtle or minor trend, arrangement, or design. Ludwig AI underscores its presence in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating its role in analytical reporting and measured descriptions. While "a slight pattern" isn't overly common, it serves a precise function in contexts where accuracy and avoiding exaggeration are crucial. Alternative phrases like "a subtle trend" or "a faint indication" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Overall, using "a slight pattern" effectively requires awareness of the context to ensure accurate portrayal of the observed phenomena.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a subtle trend

Replaces "pattern" with "trend" emphasizing the direction or tendency observed.

a minor tendency

Substitutes "slight" with "minor" and "pattern" with "tendency", focusing on a leaning or inclination.

a faint indication

Uses "faint" instead of "slight" and "indication" for "pattern", highlighting a barely perceptible sign.

a delicate design

Replaces "pattern" with "design" suggesting a more intentional and perhaps aesthetic arrangement, while keeping a subtle connotation.

a barely visible arrangement

Emphasizes the low visibility of the pattern, using stronger descriptive adjectives.

a gentle configuration

Substitutes "pattern" with "configuration", implying a specific arrangement, while retaining a subtle, mild aspect.

a mild formation

Uses "mild" instead of "slight" and "formation" for "pattern", focusing on something that is forming gently.

a marginal distribution

Replaces "slight" with "marginal" and "pattern" with "distribution", focusing on the statistical arrangement.

a limited scheme

Substitutes "pattern" with "scheme", implying a prearranged and limited arrangement, while retaining a subtle, mild aspect.

a small layout

Uses "small" instead of "slight" and "layout" for "pattern", focusing on the size of arrangement.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight pattern" to describe a subtle trend or arrangement that is noticeable but not dominant. For instance, "The data revealed "a slight pattern" of increased usage during the weekends".

What are some alternatives to "a slight pattern"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a subtle trend", "a minor tendency", or "a faint indication" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "a slight pattern" or "a subtle pattern"?

Both "a slight pattern" and "a subtle pattern" are correct, but they emphasize different aspects. "Slight" focuses on the magnitude, while "subtle" emphasizes the difficulty in perceiving the pattern.

Can "a slight pattern" be used to describe visual designs?

Yes, "a slight pattern" can describe visual designs, indicating a design element that is present but not overly prominent. For example, "The fabric had "a slight pattern" of interwoven threads".