a slight percentage

USAGE SUMMARY

"a slight percentage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to refer to a small or modest amount or proportion of something, usually a quantity that is less than what would be expected. For example, "Only a slight percentage of students studied for the final exam".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In most states, only a slight percentage of underground tanks are still operating illegally, according to the E.P.A.

The New York Times

The results show that our proposed method can complete tasks up to 12 times faster than PIRF-Nav with only a slight percentage decline in recall.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

"As a doctor," he said, "the easiest part is to fight for the life of a patient when you have the full understanding of the family, and they would like you to fight, even if there is a slight percentage of success".

The New York Times - Health

Sociopaths made up only a slight percentage of the population, but the places where one was most likely to encounter them were among politicians and salesmen — people, that is, who will say whatever they need to in order to advance their purposes.

The New Yorker

Sociopaths made up only a slight percentage of the population, but the places where one was most likely to encounter them were among politicians and salesmen people, that is, who will say whatever they need to in order to advance their purposes.

The New Yorker

This is simply caused by a slight percentage of the cocoa butter that has separated and risen to the surface.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The Federal Reserve Board said that the operating rate at the nation's factories, mines and utilities plunged 0.6 of a percentage point from January, which in turn had posted a slight 0.1 percentage point drop from the December level.

Los Angeles Times

Even the classic Pollster regression trend estimate (now available via the "create your own" tab in each chart), gives Nunn a slight (1.2 percentage point) advantage.

Huffington Post

Laboratory analysis showed: white blood cell count of 7.6×10/L, with a slight high percentage of neutrophils (69.9%); red blood cell count of 4.43×10/L; platelet count of 232×10/L; hemoglobin value of 125 g/L; hematocrit of 39.1%; and a serum albumin value of 57 g/L.

Clinical interventions in aging

Out of the two tested yeast samples, sample pertaining to yeast isolate OBS2 resulted in a slight reduction in percentage cell viability of neuroblastoma cell line IMR32 (Fig. 6b) but no reduction in percentage cell viability of breast cancer cell line MCF7 (Fig. 6a) when compared to the control and YPD broth.

AMB Express

For WD house, the average interval of the hours when T>34°C has decreased from 2.03% to 0.98%, and there is a slight increase of percentage of hours when 30°C>T>32°C from 6.96%to7.02%2%.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slight percentage", ensure the context clearly indicates what the percentage refers to. For example, "a slight percentage of the population" is more informative than just "a slight percentage".

Common error

Avoid using "a slight percentage" to describe changes that are actually significant in the given context. A seemingly small percentage can have a large impact depending on the scale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight percentage" functions as a determiner phrase quantifying a small or modest proportion. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used to describe a relatively small portion of a whole.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight percentage" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a small proportion or amount. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage in various contexts. While not as frequent as other similar expressions, it effectively conveys the idea of a minimal quantity. Best practices include specifying what the percentage relates to and avoiding its use when the percentage is misleadingly small. Remember that while "a slight percentage" suggests insignificance, the actual impact depends on the context. Common alternatives include "a small fraction" and "a minor proportion". Key sources include The New York Times, Forbes, and TechCrunch.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small fraction

Replaces "percentage" with "fraction", emphasizing a part of a whole.

a minor proportion

Substitutes "slight" with "minor" and "percentage" with "proportion", highlighting a small part relative to the total.

a negligible amount

Focuses on the insignificance of the quantity.

a minimal share

Emphasizes the small part someone possesses or is allocated.

a trace amount

Highlights the very small quantity.

a marginal quantity

Indicates that the amount is barely enough or significant.

a small segment

Emphasizes that it's a small division of something larger.

a fractional portion

Uses "fractional" to indicate a division into parts, and "portion" to refer to a part.

a slim margin

Implies a very narrow difference or advantage, using "margin" instead of proportion.

a touch of

Refers to a very small degree or quantity, typically used with non-countable nouns.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight percentage" to indicate a small amount or proportion of something. For example, "A slight percentage of the population reported experiencing side effects."

What's the difference between "a slight percentage" and "a small percentage"?

Both phrases indicate a low proportion, but "a slight percentage" implies an even smaller amount than "a small percentage". The nuance depends on the context.

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

You can use alternatives like "a small fraction", "a minor proportion", or "a negligible amount" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to quantify "a slight percentage" with an exact number?

While not always necessary, quantifying "a slight percentage" with a specific numerical value (e.g., "0.5%") can enhance clarity and provide a more precise understanding of the magnitude being discussed.