a slight regression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight regression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor setback or decline in progress, performance, or development in various contexts, such as psychology, business, or personal growth. Example: "After several weeks of improvement, I noticed a slight regression in my productivity levels."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These figures are for July, and for many economic variables the month of August brought with it a slight regression.

The Economist

After year two, a higher percentage of subjects are represented in the upper left corner of Figure 2D, while at the same time there is a slight regression to the right, indicating an overall clinical deterioration.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We observed, for instance, good progression in adopting the right drilling angle as long as the angulation guide was in place and a stagnation or slight regression once it was removed.

BioMed Research International

Because of the large number of points, a slight linear regression of Y on X will give a highly significant correlation coefficient.

BMC Genomics

This difference in tumor growth and slight regression of bevacizumab-treated tumors translated to a TGI value of 103.5% (tumor growth inhibition, %TGI = [Tumor VolumeControl Day X Tumor VolumeTreated Day X]/[Tumor VolumeControl Day X Tumor VolumeControl Day 0] × 100), values >100% indicate tumor shrinkage/remission as compared to control tumor group.

Cancer Medicine

The slight regression slope indicated that the genetic distance between pairs of individuals was weakly correlated with the geographic distance between them.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Interestingly, application of MLL4 antisense suppressed the growth of colon cancer xenograft completely with slight regression of original tumour (before application of antisense; Figure 4A).

British Journal of Cancer

15 Vestergaard et al 10 found a slight, but significant, regression from 1 week to 1 month, but no significant regression from 1 month to 3 months after SMILE.

BMJ Open

Pollen records show the broadleaf deciduous forests resilience against cooling phases during the Mid-Holocene period, with slight regressions of oak woodlands and expansion of conifers or xerophytic taxa contemporary to some cooling episodes (i.e. 8.2 and 7.2 kyr cal. BP).

Quaternary Science Reviews

We see that all methods perform similarly, with the random forest model (a type of regression tree) having a slight edge, and linear regression a close second.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

A slight increase in the regression coefficient is found for KPG2, while no apparent tendency of the regression coefficient is found for KPG1.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or progress, use "a slight regression" to acknowledge minor setbacks without overly emphasizing negativity. For example, in project reports or performance reviews.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight regression" to describe major downturns or significant failures. Ensure the adjective "slight" accurately reflects the magnitude of the setback to maintain credibility and avoid misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight regression" functions as a noun phrase, where "slight" modifies the noun "regression". As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction is used to denote a minor or limited decline in a given context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a slight regression" is a noun phrase used to describe a minor setback or decline. Grammatically correct and found in various contexts, Ludwig confirms it's suitable for acknowledging small negative trends. While not extremely common, its usage is generally neutral to formal, making it appropriate for professional, news, and scientific writing. To avoid misinterpretation, ensure the term accurately reflects the extent of the decline, as overstating it can undermine credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A minor setback

Focuses on the interruption of progress rather than the direction of change.

A small decline

Emphasizes the reduction in quantity or quality, rather than a directional shift.

A marginal decrease

Highlights the small scale of the reduction, often in a quantitative context.

A gentle downturn

Suggests a mild and gradual negative trend.

A limited fallback

Emphasizes a return to a previous, less desirable state, but contained in scope.

A fractional slippage

Implies a minimal and almost unnoticeable decline.

A modest drop

Highlights a reduction in amount or level, without necessarily implying a negative connotation.

A minimal lapse

Focuses on a temporary failure or decline, implying a return to the previous state is expected.

A touch of deterioration

Emphasizes the negative aspect of the change, suggesting a decline in quality or condition.

A shade of worsening

Subtly suggests that a condition or situation has become marginally worse.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight regression" to describe a minor decline or setback in progress. For example, "Despite overall gains, there was "a slight regression" in customer satisfaction this quarter".

What are some alternatives to saying "a slight regression"?

Alternatives include "a minor setback", "a small decline", or "a marginal decrease", depending on the context.

Is it always negative to describe something as "a slight regression"?

Yes, "a slight regression" generally carries a negative connotation, as it implies a move backward from a previously improved state. However, the impact is softened by the adjective "slight", indicating the decline is not severe.

What's the difference between "a slight regression" and "a significant regression"?

"A slight regression" indicates a minor setback, while "a significant regression" suggests a more substantial decline. The choice depends on the magnitude of the setback you are describing.