a slightly negative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly negative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a minor or small degree of negativity, such as an opinion, feeling, or effect. Example: "The feedback I received was a slightly negative review, but it also included some constructive criticism."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

New Zealand have had a wonderful day, although their run-rate arguably reflects a slightly negative mindset.

The Guardian - Sport

So after a slightly negative start, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has moved into positive territory and is currently around 5 points higher.

The Guardian - Business

Net trade has in fact made a slightly negative contribution since 2009, as British firms have struggled to export to a Eurozone that is only starting to recover.

The Economist

Here the IPCC is saying that since 1980, the sun and volcanoes have combined to cause a slightly negative global energy imbalance, which means they have had a slight cooling influence on global temperatures over the past three decades.

The Guardian

"Because quats are positively charged, and skin proteins have a slightly negative charge, quats like to attach themselves to skin," said Greg Nole, a manager at Unilever, the parent company of Vaseline and Dove.

The New York Times

Overall, breastfeeding had a slightly negative impact on sexuality.

Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health

In fact, the holiday season actually has a slightly negative impact on SMB purchasing behavior.

TechCrunch

In case of the primary energy demand, this leads to a slightly negative result even.

Applied Water Science

Tree size had a slightly negative effect on CVd (Figs. 7f and 8c).

Forest Ecosystems

In Europe, markets were mixed with a slightly negative bias around midday.

Forbes

Overall, the sector had a slightly negative week with the Nasdaq composite index off approximately 1%.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slightly negative", ensure the context provides a clear reference point. What is being measured against a neutral or positive baseline? Clarity will prevent misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly negative" when the impact is more significant than the modifier suggests. Overuse can diminish the perceived impact of genuine negativity in other statements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly negative" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a mild degree of negativity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used and understood. Examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts ranging from describing market trends to scientific results.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slightly negative" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to denote a minor degree of negativity. As Ludwig AI notes, it is grammatically sound and frequently employed across diverse fields like science, news, and business. Its purpose is to qualify a statement and soften potentially harsh information. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context provides a clear baseline for comparison to avoid ambiguity. While "a slightly negative" is common, avoid overusing it to maintain its impact when truly needed. Alternatives such as ""a somewhat negative"" or ""a mildly negative"" offer subtle variations in meaning and can enhance precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somewhat negative

Replaces "slightly" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly stronger degree of negativity.

a mildly negative

Uses "mildly" instead of "slightly", suggesting a gentler level of negativity.

a marginally negative

Employs "marginally" to convey that the negativity is barely noticeable or impactful.

a faintly negative

Substitutes "slightly" with "faintly", implying a weak or subtle negative aspect.

a negligibly negative

Indicates the negative aspect is so small it's almost not worth considering.

a barely negative

Highlights that the negative component is present by the smallest of margins.

a subtly negative

Focuses on the understated and not immediately obvious character of the negativity.

a minimally negative

Conveys that the negative aspect is the smallest amount possible.

a hardly positive

Expresses negativity by emphasizing the lack of positivity, shifting the perspective.

not particularly positive

Indicates a lack of strong positive attributes, implying a slight negativity by absence.

FAQs

How to use "a slightly negative" in a sentence?

Use "a slightly negative" to describe something with a minor adverse effect or a somewhat unfavorable characteristic. For example, "The results showed "a slightly negative" impact on sales."

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

You can use alternatives like "a somewhat negative", "a mildly negative", or "a marginally negative", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

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

Both "a slightly negative" and "slightly negative" can be correct, depending on the context. "A slightly negative" functions as an adjective phrase describing something, while "slightly negative" can act as an adverb modifying a verb or adjective. For example: "The correlation was slightly negative".

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

"A slightly negative" indicates a minor or small degree of negativity, while "a significantly negative" suggests a much larger and more important negative impact. The choice depends on the magnitude of the effect you're describing.