a slightly long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly long" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is longer than usual but not excessively so, often in relation to time, distance, or length. Example: "The meeting was a slightly long affair, lasting over two hours instead of the usual one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Here's his recollection: The story (a slightly long one) begins some years ago.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The samples with high Ti content showed a slightly long-wave shift along with a band broadening, thus indicating the appearance of higher coordinated Ti atoms in oligomeric Ti species [13].

Applied Petrochemical Research

This should be an elongated, slightly long sphere.

WikiHow

Second, the entire plasmid was randomly mutated in a slightly mutagenic long polymerase chain reaction.

Biomolecular Engineering

Newly issued 30-year bonds yield 40 to 50 basis points less than a slightly older long bond.

Forbes

So light with a slightly too long, less energetic wavelength can enter the cavity by drawing energy from the vibrations, in the process causing the bridge to move less.

Science Magazine

These results suggest that shYme1L cells keep normal SIMH activity, although compared with WT cells, shYme1L cells show a slightly decreased long tubular mitochondria.

Cell Death and Disease

A slightly too long piece will actually make the entire construction a little bit more snug and prevent cracks from forming as the house settles.

WikiHow

Biotin production was relatively high in slightly long rod-shape cells but low in elongated cells.

Biochemical Engineering Journal

His fingers are slightly long and tapering.

Plosone

For guys, nicely groomed, slightly long nails will do!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slightly long", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being measured. For example, "a slightly long delay" is more informative than just "a slightly long".

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly long" when you actually mean something is significantly longer. Using more accurate descriptors like "considerably longer" or "much longer" will provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly long" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that something has a length that is a little more than what is typical or expected. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slightly long" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that describes something with a length exceeding the norm by a small degree. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, from formal scientific articles to informal news reports. When using "a slightly long", ensure that the context clearly defines what is being measured and avoid using it to describe something significantly longer than expected. Alternatives like "somewhat lengthy" or "a bit long" can be used to achieve a similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat lengthy

Replaces "slightly long" with synonyms that maintain the nuance of moderate extension.

a tad long

Uses "tad" to indicate a small degree of being long, similar to "slightly".

a bit long

Employs "bit" to suggest a small amount of extra length.

moderately long

Substitutes "slightly" with "moderately" to convey a similar degree of length.

somewhat extended

Uses "extended" instead of "long", implying a bit more duration or length than usual.

a little long

Similar to "a bit long", indicating a small increase in length.

marginally long

Replaces "slightly" with "marginally", suggesting a small and barely noticeable increase in length.

a touch long

Uses "touch" to indicate a minimal amount of extra length.

slightly prolonged

Replaces "long" with "prolonged" which has a temporal meaning.

a shade long

Uses "shade" to convey a very small degree of extra length.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slightly long" to describe something that exceeds the typical or expected length by a small amount. For example, "The movie had "a slightly long running time", but it was still enjoyable."

What's a good alternative to "a slightly long"?

Alternatives include "somewhat lengthy", "a bit long", or "moderately long", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "a slightly long"?

While grammatically correct, using "a slightly long" might be inappropriate if the length is significantly more than expected. In such cases, use phrases like "considerably longer" or "much longer".

What does "a slightly long" imply about the subject?

The phrase "a slightly long" suggests that the subject in question is somewhat extended in length but not to a significant or problematic degree. The increase in length is minor and may or may not be noticeable without specific comparison.