a slim increase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slim increase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or modest rise in a quantity, value, or measurement. Example: "The company reported a slim increase in profits this quarter, indicating a slight improvement in their financial performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The UK-founded online music service, which was acquired by CBS for $280m in May 2007, reported a slim increase of 1.7% in total revenues in 2011 from £7.99m to £8.1m.

The Guardian

Its Sunday stablemate, the News of the World, also put on 16,786, although at 3,120,991 that is a slim increase and still 3.94% down on August 2008.

The Guardian

3M, the maker of Post-its and Scotch tape, said on Thursday that it managed a slim increase in second-quarter earnings as cost-cutting offset a revenue shortfall.

The New York Times

An internal announcement of the cuts, most of which are expected in the next few weeks, came after Merrill announced that its second-quarter earnings rose 34percentt, despite a slim increase in revenue from commissions and slower growth in the amount of money customers invested at the firm.

The New York Times

An internal announcement of the cuts, most of which are expected in the next few weeks, came after Merrill said that its second-quarter earnings rose 34percentt despite a slim increase in revenue from commissions and slower growth in the amount of money customers invested at the firm.

The New York Times

DuPont's agriculture and nutrition division was the only segment to suffer an operating loss in the third quarter, with $181 million in red ink compared with last year's loss of $113 million, despite a slim increase in sales to $1.3 billion as greater research and development spending outweighted increasing sales penetration in Latin American seed markets.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It rose by only 1%–a dramatically slimmer increase than last year's 12%, and the slowest rise since Forbes began tracking the numbers.

Forbes

The slim increase marks a stark contrast from recent months.

Los Angeles Times

Regions Financial posted a slim 1.1% increase in first-quarter earnings, pushing shares up 8.4%, or $1.56, to close at $20.10 on Tuesday.

Forbes

On Tuesday, Regions Financial posted a slim 1.1% increase in first-quarter earnings, pushing shares up 6.7%, or $1.25, to $19.81 in morning trading.

Forbes

That growth came off the back of two successive quarters of shipment declines, with Q2 registering a slim 3.7percentt increase on the shipment total for Q1 2016, the research firm said.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slim increase", ensure the context clearly indicates what is increasing and the units of measurement involved to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "a slim increase in sales" or "a slim increase in temperature".

Common error

Avoid using "a slim increase" when the increase is actually substantial or significant. Using it in such a context can mislead the reader and undermine the impact of the growth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slim increase" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun, typically referring to a measurable quantity or metric. It describes the magnitude of the increase as being small or modest. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slim increase" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase that depicts a small or moderate rise. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It finds its use most commonly in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts. While it's not as frequent as other similar phrases, such as "a slight increase", it effectively conveys the idea of a limited growth. When using the phrase, remember to specify the subject that is increasing and avoid using it when describing significant growth. Several alternatives exist, each with slightly different nuances, such as "a slight increase", "a modest increase" and "a marginal increase".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight increase

This alternative is a direct synonym, emphasizing the small degree of change.

a marginal increase

This alternative suggests that the increase is barely noticeable or significant.

a modest increase

This suggests the increase is not large or excessive in size or amount.

a small rise

This is a more concise way to convey the same meaning, using "rise" as a synonym for "increase".

a minimal gain

This emphasizes the positive aspect of the increase, focusing on the gain achieved, however small.

a fractional increase

This highlights that the increase is only a small fraction of the whole.

a negligible increase

This implies that the increase is so small it is almost not worth considering.

a hairline increase

This uses a visual metaphor to indicate a very thin or slight increase.

a creeping increase

This suggests a slow and gradual increase over time.

a gentle uptick

This conveys a slight upward trend in a more informal and positive manner.

FAQs

What does "a slim increase" mean?

The phrase "a slim increase" refers to a small or modest rise in a quantity, value, or measurement. It indicates that there has been some growth, but that it is not particularly significant.

What can I say instead of "a slim increase"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight increase", "a modest increase", or "a marginal increase" to convey a similar meaning.

How do I use "a slim increase" in a sentence?

You can use "a slim increase" to describe a variety of situations where there is a small rise. For example: "The company reported a slim increase in profits this quarter", or "There has been a slim increase in the number of students enrolled in the program".

Is "a slim increase" the same as "a slight increase"?

While both phrases indicate a small rise, "a slim increase" can sometimes imply that the increase is so small it is almost negligible. "A slight increase" generally has a more neutral connotation.