a slightly steep

USAGE SUMMARY

"a slightly steep" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing the gradient of a hill, a climb, or a road, for example. For example, "The road up to the house was a slightly steep climb."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Brent is a thorough person, and so, after seeing much of the work in many of the pavilions — Chinese, U.S., and so on — we walked up a slightly steep hill through the endlessly humid air to the show I was looking forward to more than any other, at the British pavilion.

The New Yorker

Brent is a thorough person, and so, after seeing much of the work in many of the pavilions Chinese, U.S., and so on we walked up a slightly steep hill through the endlessly humid air to the show I was looking forward to more than any other, at the British pavilion.

The New Yorker

A slightly steep surface is best to gain the horizontal S carving motion as you have enough momentum.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Saw 3D also lost more than half of its locations, falling a slightly steeper 80%.

The Guardian - Film

The chart for paid apps shows a slightly steeper fall-off rate.

TechCrunch

In the six-month a year earlitr, it had $371.9 million in revenue, and a slightly steeper $79.4 million in losses.

TechCrunch

It has a spectrum with a slightly steeper slope at high SH degrees but otherwise a similar power level.

Earth, Planets and Space

Thus, the deeper SMGA has a slightly steeper dip angle because of the bending of the subducting Pacific slab.

Earth, Planets and Space

V P for hcp-Fe at 300 K is 3%to4%4% above PREM, with a slightly steeper slope.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Those numbers compare favorably to the year-ago six-month period during which Square reported $371.9 million in revenue, and a slightly steeper $79.4 million in losses.

TechCrunch

Earlier findings of a slightly steeper homicide sex ratio, closely following the country's economic growth and this victim sex ratio which could further affirm or dispel Roth's findings, may prove to be an impactful sociological phenomenon to study.

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slightly steep" to describe gradients that are noticeable but not challenging. For example, "The path had a slightly steep incline, but it was manageable."

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly steep" when the incline is either almost flat or considerably challenging; choose more appropriate descriptors like "gentle slope" or "very steep climb" depending on the true gradient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly steep" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (e.g., hill, path, incline). Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slightly steep" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a gentle incline, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's relatively rare, but appears across news, wiki and science contexts. When writing, use "a slightly steep" to convey a minor but noticeable incline and avoid using it for near-flat or significantly challenging slopes. Consider alternatives such as "a gentle slope" or "a gradual incline" to provide further clarity, and remember that while the phrase is suitable for neutral contexts, adapting the surrounding language can alter its overall formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a modestly steep incline

Replaces "slightly" with "modestly" and "steep" with "incline", altering both the intensity and the specific term for the slope.

a gently sloping hill

Substitutes "slightly steep" with "gently sloping", changing the emphasis to a gradual incline.

a gradual incline

Uses "gradual incline" instead of "slightly steep", focusing on the easiness of the slope.

a mildly steep grade

Replaces "slightly" with "mildly" and "steep" with "grade", providing a more technical term for slope.

a somewhat steep ascent

Employs "somewhat" in place of "slightly" and "ascent" instead of "steep", focusing on the action of climbing.

a moderately sloped area

Uses "moderately sloped" instead of "slightly steep", indicating a medium level of inclination.

a relatively steep bank

Replaces "slightly" with "relatively" and uses "bank" instead of a general incline, specifying a landform.

a subtly rising path

Substitutes "slightly steep" with "subtly rising", highlighting the barely noticeable increase in elevation.

an imperceptibly steep ramp

Changes "slightly" to "imperceptibly" and "hill" to "ramp", suggesting the incline is hard to notice.

a barely noticeable gradient

Replaces "slightly steep" with "barely noticeable gradient", focusing on the almost unnoticeable change in slope.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slightly steep" to describe a gentle incline or slope. For example, "We walked up "a slightly steep hill" to reach the viewpoint."

What are some alternatives to "a slightly steep"?

Alternatives include "a gentle slope", "a gradual incline", or "a mildly sloping path", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a slightly steep" formal or informal?

"A slightly steep" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the surrounding language will influence the overall tone.

What's the difference between "a slightly steep" and "a very steep"?

"A slightly steep" indicates a minor incline that is easy to manage, while "a very steep" describes a significant incline that could be challenging to climb or navigate.