a slightly sweet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly sweet" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a flavor or taste that has a mild sweetness, often in the context of food or beverages. Example: "The dessert had a slightly sweet flavor that complemented the tartness of the berries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Food

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Bitter with a slightly sweet undertone.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Crispy, with a slightly sweet glaze reminiscent of barbecue sauce.

The Guardian - Travel

The chef manages the right balances in a slightly sweet, buttery, mustard sauce.

The New York Times - Travel

Gruyère is a firm, slightly elastic mountain cheese with a slightly sweet, nutty flavour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The end result is a slightly sweet water that has a faint fruity scent.

The Guardian

The coconut not only tenderised the chicken, but gave it a slightly sweet flavour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Seared baby lamb chops, which came with a slightly sweet honey-mint sauce, were initially served purple rare.

The New York Times

If you do want a slightly sweet wine, kabinett rieslings from the Mosel region of Germany would make excellent choices.

The New York Times - Food

Fresh-tasting sauvignon blancs, and chenin blancs, sometimes with a slightly sweet finish, are typical of India's whites.

The New York Times - Food

Nihonkai Shouya's version was glazed in a slightly sweet soy sauce and showered with peppery kinome leaves.

The New York Times - Travel

The Bugey ($17.99 at Zachy's) is a slightly sweet, lightly sparkling rosé made in northeastern France, near the Swiss border.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food or beverages, use "a slightly sweet" to indicate a balanced flavor profile where sweetness is present but not overpowering. This helps create a nuanced and appealing description.

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly sweet" repetitively within the same text. Instead, vary your descriptions with synonyms like "mildly sweet", "subtly sweet", or more descriptive terms that specify the source of the sweetness (e.g., "a honeyed note").

Linguistic Context

Adjective phrase modifying a noun. "A slightly sweet" functions to describe something that possesses a mild degree of sweetness. This description is used to characterize flavors, scents, or even abstract qualities, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Food

30%

Travel

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a slightly sweet" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something with a mild degree of sweetness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, primarily in food and beverage descriptions within News & Media. The phrase conveys a nuanced sensory experience, and while frequent, it's important to avoid overuse by employing synonyms like "mildly sweet" or "subtly sweet". Knowing when and how to use this phrase can enhance the clarity and appeal of your writing, ensuring you accurately depict the flavors and aromas you're describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mildly sweet

Replaces "slightly" with "mildly", indicating a similar level of subtle sweetness.

a subtly sweet

Uses "subtly" to emphasize the delicate nature of the sweetness.

a gently sweet

Employs "gently" to suggest a soft and delicate sweetness.

a delicately sweet

Replaces "slightly" with "delicately" highlighting a refined and subtle sweetness.

a faintly sweet

Uses "faintly" to imply an almost imperceptible level of sweetness.

a touch of sweetness

Expresses the idea of a small amount of sweetness added to something.

a hint of sweetness

Similar to "a touch of sweetness", but perhaps even more subtle.

a whisper of sweetness

Emphasizes the extremely subtle and almost undetectable nature of the sweetness.

barely sweet

Indicates that the sweetness is present, but only just.

lightly sweetened

Describes something to which a small amount of sweetener has been added.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slightly sweet" to describe flavors, aromas, or even abstract concepts. For example, "The wine had a slightly sweet aftertaste", or "There's a slightly sweet feeling of nostalgia associated with that song".

What are some alternatives to "a slightly sweet"?

Alternatives include "a mildly sweet", "a subtly sweet", "a hint of sweetness", or "a touch of sweetness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a slightly sweet" or "slightly sweetened"?

"A slightly sweet" describes an inherent quality, while "slightly sweetened" implies that something has had sweetness added to it. For example, "a slightly sweet apple" vs. "slightly sweetened tea".

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

"A slightly sweet" suggests a mild level of sweetness that enhances the flavor, while "a very sweet" indicates a strong, dominant sweetness. The choice depends on the intensity of the sweetness you want to describe.