a slightly greater

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly greater" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two quantities or degrees, indicating that one is marginally more than the other. Example: "The new model offers a slightly greater battery life than its predecessor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was a slightly greater percentage of A's and B's earned in the online format.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Math 54 had a slightly greater impact than the others (see the statistical study for details).

University of California, Berkeley

He also signaled a slightly greater receptiveness to some gun-control proposals.

The New York Times

The Pearl River delta still has a slightly greater economic output and exports.

The New York Times

Born in the year of the dog, I have a slightly greater affinity with them.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The most affluent tenth of the country saw a slightly greater rise in volatility.

The New York Times - Books

Americans over 30 showed a slightly greater tendency toward monogamy than their French counterparts.

The New York Times - Science

"There were some bright spots, but a slightly greater number of not-so-bright spots".

The New York Times

Private subsidies accounted for a slightly greater share of the disbursements than public works.

The New York Times

The southern Colorado Plateau exhibits thicker crust (∼ 40 km) and a slightly greater observed Vp/Vs (∼ 1.81).

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Spreads on United States credit default swaps have widened, indicating a slightly greater fear of default, but nothing drastic.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slightly greater" to emphasize a small but potentially meaningful difference between two comparable items or values. This can be particularly useful in reports, analysis and comparison articles.

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly greater" when the difference is statistically significant or substantial. In such cases, opt for phrases that accurately reflect the magnitude of the difference, such as "significantly greater" or "considerably larger".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly greater" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to quantify a difference or increase in a subtle or marginal way. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slightly greater" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase that serves to indicate a subtle or marginal difference between two comparable entities. Ludwig confirms the phrase's validity and usability. It is prevalent in scientific, news media, and academic contexts, conveying a modest degree of increase or advantage. While versatile, it's important to reserve it for situations where the difference is truly small to avoid misrepresenting the data or situation. Alternatives like "a marginally higher" or "a somewhat larger" can be used to achieve a similar meaning, while maintaining clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a marginally higher

Indicates a small increase, similar to "a slightly greater", but emphasizes the edge as being on the margin.

a somewhat larger

Replaces 'greater' with 'larger', focusing on size or quantity instead of degree.

a minimally bigger

Uses 'bigger' to imply a small increase in size, with 'minimally' softening the difference.

a tad more

Replaces 'slightly greater' with the more informal expression 'a tad more', indicating a small increase.

a shade better

Implies a small improvement or advantage, similar to 'greater' in a qualitative sense.

a fractionally increased

Highlights that the increase is just a fraction over the other, making the difference subtle.

a nominally superior

Suggests the increase is so small that the edge in 'superior' is barely noticeable.

a hair's breadth more

Idiomatically expresses a very small difference or advantage.

a hint more

Uses 'hint' to convey a subtle or barely perceptible increase.

a touch more

Replaces 'slightly greater' with the more casual 'a touch more', indicating a gentle change.

FAQs

How can I use "a slightly greater" in a sentence?

Use "a slightly greater" to indicate a marginal increase or advantage. For example, "The updated version offers "a slightly greater" battery life."

What are some alternatives to saying "a slightly greater"?

Alternatives include "a marginally higher", "a somewhat larger", or "a tad more", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "a slight greater" instead of "a slightly greater"?

No, the correct phrasing is "a slightly greater". The adverb "slightly" modifies the adjective "greater", indicating the degree of difference.

What's the difference between "a slightly greater" and "a significantly greater"?

"A slightly greater" indicates a small, often negligible, difference, while "a significantly greater" indicates a difference that is statistically important or meaningfully larger.