a slightly later

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly later" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time that is a bit further in the future compared to a previously mentioned time. Example: "We can schedule the meeting for a slightly later time if that works better for everyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, the moduli increase at a slightly later time.

Nature

A slightly later poll by The Washington Post, however, showed women narrowly favoring Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

In "I[10-31-2003]," a slaterly later work, she begins building her narrative.

The New York Times

Another painting on the same theme and of a slightly later date hangs beside it.

The New York Times - Arts

The cardboard mount of this one is of medium thickness, indicating a slightly later date.

The Guardian

Script: Text written by one person in humanistic script; numerous marginal and interlinear notes in a slightly later hand.

Yale University

A slightly later date, however, since we are talking about knowing precisely when something happened, has plausibility.

The Guardian - Books

Mario Andretti, 70 last month, had a slightly later Lotus 79, from 1978, his year of grand prix glory.

The Guardian - Sport

The E. Beringia 'all-temperature' composite shows a slightly later thermal maximum at ~6.5 6.0 ka BP (Fig. 5b).

Nature

Schizophrenia generally rears its head between the ages of 15 and 24, with a slightly later age for females.

The New York Times

I have a slightly later, yellowing and decrepit edition, from 1971, though it's the same oversized format.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a sequence of events or stages, use "a slightly later" to clearly signal a temporal progression without implying a significant delay. This adds precision to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly later" excessively in highly formal or scientific writing where more precise temporal markers (e.g., "subsequently", "thereafter") might be more appropriate. Too much informality can undermine the seriousness of the content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly later" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the timing of an event or action in relation to a previous one. It indicates a temporal relationship, showing that something occurs after a specific point in time. As shown in the Ludwig AI examples, this phrase is often used to adjust schedules, describe stages of development, or compare dates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

34%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slightly later" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a temporal relationship where an event occurs a short time after another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While versatile, writers should consider more precise terms in highly formal settings. Alternatives like "somewhat afterwards" or "a tad subsequently" can provide similar meaning with different stylistic nuances. When writing, be mindful of the temporal sequence and context to effectively use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat afterwards

Replaces "slightly" with "somewhat" and "later" with "afterwards", altering the specific word choices while keeping a similar temporal meaning.

a tad subsequently

Uses "a tad" instead of "slightly" and "subsequently" for "later", providing a less common but analogous expression.

a little after that

Breaks down the adverbial phrase into a prepositional phrase, offering a more descriptive and less concise alternative.

at a subsequent time

Replaces the adverb "later" with the noun "time" and uses "subsequent" to maintain the meaning of following after.

in the near aftermath

Emphasizes a short time following an event. It is appropriate when a cause has just happened.

shortly thereafter

Uses more formal vocabulary to express the idea of something happening soon after another event.

at a future juncture

Employs more formal language and a broader sense of time, referring to a point in the future shortly after the reference point.

following shortly

Rearranges the structure to place "following" as a participle modifying the subject, while "shortly" acts as an adverb.

in due course

Refers to something happening at the appropriate time in the future. Less immediate than "a slightly later".

in the fullness of time

Suggests that something will happen when the time is right, which might be a little later, but doesn't specify when.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slightly later" to indicate that something happens a short time after something else. For example, "The meeting was rescheduled for "a slightly later time"."

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

"A slightly later" indicates a small difference in time, whereas "a significantly later" implies a much larger gap in time.

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

Alternatives include "somewhat afterwards", "a tad subsequently", or "a little after that", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it correct to use "a slightly later" in academic writing?

Yes, it is generally acceptable. However, for very formal academic contexts, consider using more precise alternatives like "subsequently" or "thereafter" to maintain a formal tone.