a slight success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that is somewhat successful, but not overwhelmingly so. Example: "The project was a slight success, as we managed to meet some of our goals, but not all of them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The expectation of slight success becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, as discussed in the concept of perceived self-efficacy [ 73].

BMC Psychiatry

They had slight success until the Communist students helped them.

The New Yorker

They also tried to synthesize the larger diamondoids from scratch, with only slight success.

The New York Times - Science

"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

There are some high-profile MS benefactors out there as well, although there may be only a slight possibility of success!

Science Magazine

Her first profession casts a slight shadow over her success.

The New Yorker

But there's a slight catch to the success.

The New York Times

He refused, insisting that there was still "a slight remaining chance of success".

The New York Times

He did not agree, insisting that there was still "a slight remaining chance of success," if the shah would broadcast an address on the Baghdad radio and General Zahedi took an aggressive stand.

The New York Times

Schmerz takes each student's screenplay as a personal slight; every success that isn't his own is salt in the open wound of his failing career.

The Guardian - Film

The thrill of what had seemed such immediate success turned to a slight sense of guilt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more descriptive alternatives like "a modest achievement" or "limited progress" if they more accurately reflect the situation, offering nuanced communication.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight success" when the outcome is actually a failure or has no discernible positive impact. This misrepresentation can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight success" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "slight" modifies the noun "success". It describes the extent or degree of the success achieved. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Academia

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Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight success" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an outcome with limited positive results. Ludwig AI confirms the expression to be correct and usable in diverse contexts. While not extremely frequent, it effectively conveys a nuanced assessment. When using the expression, precision is recommended to contextualize clearly and avoid overstating the actual achievements. Consider similar phrases such as "a modest achievement" or "limited progress" for subtle differences in conveying meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A modest achievement

Replaces "success" with "achievement" and "slight" with "modest", indicating a similar degree of limited accomplishment.

A minor triumph

Substitutes "success" with "triumph" and "slight" with "minor", suggesting a small victory or win.

A partial victory

Replaces the whole phrase with a description of an incomplete or limited success.

Limited progress

Focuses on the advancement made, describing it as restricted or not fully realized.

A qualified success

Indicates success is present but with conditions or limitations.

A narrow win

Emphasizes the closeness of the success, indicating it was barely achieved.

Some headway

Suggests a degree of advancement or forward movement, but not complete success.

A small step forward

Implies minimal advancement or progress made towards a goal.

A marginal improvement

Highlights that there was some positive change, but the degree of it was quite small.

A touch of success

Using "a touch of" implies a very minimal degree of success

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight success" to describe an outcome that had some positive results, but not as many as hoped for. For example, "The marketing campaign was "a slight success", leading to a small increase in sales."

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a modest achievement", "limited progress", or "a qualified success".

Is it correct to say "a slight successful" instead of "a slight success"?

No, "a slight successful" is grammatically incorrect. "Success" is a noun, while "successful" is an adjective. The correct phrase is ""a slight success"", where "slight" modifies the noun "success".

What does it mean when something is described as "a slight success"?

It indicates that something achieved a degree of success, but the results were not significant or substantial. It's more than a failure but less than "a resounding success".