a slightly small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly small" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence like: "The room was a slightly small for the number of people gathered in it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A.500 record on it for a team slightly over.500.

Los Angeles Times

In the event it produced a slightly disappointing 425,831.

The Guardian - Business

It had been a slightly odd opening 25 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

I think was a slightly larger than '66.

University of Chicago

Yahoo Finance lists a slightly smaller figure: 187.06.

TechCrunch

A slightly larger number, 93, had black protagonists.

Huffington Post

The 102 is a slightly smaller version, and the 302 is slightly larger.

TechCrunch

This sample also has a higher 36Ar concentration of 3.5 × 10−6 cm3 cm−3H2O and a slightly elevated 40Ar/36Ar of 2236.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

SCCB is a slightly modified version of I2C.

Cornell University

Or, in simpler terms, a slightly buzzier, treble-y Sunn0 ))).

The Guardian - Music

It had a slightly smaller height of 1.5m.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "a bit small" or "slightly undersized" for improved clarity and naturalness.

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly small" in formal writing; it can sound unnatural. Opt for alternatives that are more widely accepted and idiomatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly small" functions as a descriptive phrase modifying a noun. While grammatically sound according to Ludwig AI, it is not commonly used in practice and might sound awkward to native English speakers.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a slightly small" is technically grammatically correct as Ludwig AI confirms, it's not commonly used in contemporary English and may sound awkward. More idiomatic alternatives, such as "a bit small" or "slightly undersized", are generally preferred. Due to its infrequent usage, no authoritative sources are found to exemplify the phrase, reinforcing the advice to opt for more standard expressions in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somewhat small

Replaces "slightly" with "somewhat", offering a similar degree of modification.

a marginally small

Uses "marginally" instead of "slightly", suggesting a minimal difference in size.

a minimally small

Employs "minimally" to indicate a very small degree of smallness.

a bit small

Uses a simpler, more informal construction to express a similar idea.

slightly undersized

Rephrases the entire expression to focus on the concept of being undersized.

a tad small

Substitutes "slightly" with "a tad", offering a more colloquial feel.

somewhat undersized

Combines "somewhat" with "undersized" for a slightly more formal alternative.

a little small

Uses "a little" for a simpler and more common way to say "slightly small".

barely small

Implies that it's almost not even small, with a tiny degree of smallness

hardly big

Expresses a similar idea by negating the opposite attribute (big).

FAQs

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

While grammatically correct, "a slightly small" can sound awkward. Consider using alternatives like "a bit small" or "slightly undersized" for better clarity.

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

You can use alternatives like "a bit small", "slightly undersized", or "somewhat small" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a slightly small" or "slightly smaller"?

"Slightly smaller" is generally preferred because it directly compares the size to something else, implying a relative difference, whereas "a slightly small" describes an attribute in a less direct way.

What's the difference between "a slightly small" and "a little small"?

"A little small" is a more common and idiomatic way of saying something is somewhat small, while "a slightly small" is grammatically correct but less frequently used and may sound less natural.