a slightly late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly late" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not on time, but only by a small margin. Example: "I apologize for being a slightly late to the meeting; traffic was heavier than I expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He was a slightly late arrival among the generation that included James Joyce, Beckett, Frank O'Connor, Seán O'Faoláin, Patrick Kavanagh and, later again, Brendan Behan.

The Guardian - Books

It was a slightly late bloomer, which is encouraging considering those "school's out" legs for the next week and change.

Forbes

Either way, Toyota will no doubt be a huge player in the growing electric/hybrid supercar market although they are getting a slightly late start.

TechCrunch

"The Duckett thing - although they are reacting very strongly to it - doesn't sound much more than a slightly late night going ever so slightly wrong.

BBC

Spectators were angry at a slightly late resumption, thanks to the rescheduling of the tea break, on a day when a succession of heavy downpours meant only 51 overs were possible.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

As his all-round game has developed, so his temperament, which was his one patent weakness, has become equable, so much so that when the Wales No8 Ross Moriarty floored him with a thumping, slightly late tackle in Cardiff two weeks ago that left him winded, he shook his head, got up and resumed his place in the back line.

The Guardian - Sport

I put in a couple of slightly late tackles, a forearm here and there – every time I thought I had one of them, they were gone or just too strong".

The Guardian - Sport

Yet when I returned a few (only slightly late) books the other day, the librarian didn't ask for a fine but a fee.

The Guardian

For example, a Ferguson court employee reported that the bench routinely starts hearing cases 30 minutes before the appointed time and then locks the doors to the building as early as five minutes after the official hour, a practice that could easily lead a defendant arriving even slightly late to receive an additional charge for failure to appear.

Huffington Post

A $100m summer blockbuster about a man making people slightly late for things?

The Guardian - Film

And upon landing in New York she made a beeline for Shake Shack, devoured two burgers and promptly took a nap that had made her slightly late for a conversation about her latest film, "Rust and Bone," being released Friday by Sony Pictures Classics.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slightly late" to soften the impact of reporting a delay, especially when the delay is minimal and not a major inconvenience. It conveys a sense of mildness and avoids sounding overly critical or negative.

Common error

While "a slightly late" is acceptable, overuse in formal reports or professional communications can appear unprofessional. Opt for more precise alternatives like "delayed" or "behind schedule" when accuracy and formality are paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly late" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a minor degree of tardiness or delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, reflecting its role in specifying the extent of lateness. For instance, "a slightly late arrival" describes the nature of someone's arrival.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slightly late" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that serves to describe something or someone that is not exactly on time but is only minimally delayed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It finds its place most commonly in news and media, wiki, and science contexts. While it's generally acceptable, consider the level of formality required by the context and opt for more precise alternatives like "delayed" or "behind schedule" in professional settings. Remember to soften the impact of reporting a delay, and note that overuse might diminish the professional tone of your writing. The related alternatives like "a bit tardy" or "somewhat delayed" can provide variety and precision to your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit tardy

Replaces "late" with "tardy", implying a minor delay using a different synonym.

somewhat delayed

Substitutes "slightly" with "somewhat" and "late" with "delayed", altering the specific wording while retaining the meaning.

a little behind schedule

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate being slightly off the expected timetable.

marginally late

Replaces "slightly" with "marginally", indicating a small degree of lateness with a more formal tone.

just a little late

Emphasizes the minimal extent of lateness using a more informal expression.

a tad late

Replaces "slightly" with "a tad", offering a more colloquial alternative.

not quite on time

Shifts the focus to the lack of punctuality rather than directly stating lateness.

a touch late

Uses "a touch" as a more subtle substitute for "slightly".

barely late

Highlights how close to being on time something or someone is.

inches late

Provides a vivid image of minimal lateness.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slightly late" to describe something or someone that is not exactly on time but only by a small margin. For example, "The train was "a slightly late" arriving at the station".

What can I say instead of "a slightly late"?

You can use alternatives like "a bit tardy", "somewhat delayed", or "a little behind schedule" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a slightly late" or "slightly late"?

Both "a slightly late" and "slightly late" can be correct, but they have different uses. "A slightly late" is used when you are referring to something specific that is late, such as "a slightly late train". "Slightly late" is used as an adverbial phrase, such as "He arrived slightly late".

What's the difference between "a slightly late" and "late"?

"A slightly late" indicates a minor delay, whereas "late" suggests a more significant delay. The use of "slightly" softens the impact and indicates the delay is not substantial.