a subtle modification

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a subtle modification" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a slight or delicate change made to something, often in a context where precision is important. Example: "The designer made a subtle modification to the color scheme, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Our results clearly indicate that agonism and antagonism of the antibody/cytokine receptor chimera can be readily switched by a subtle modification of the ligand binding domain as well as that of GPCRs, also implying the existence of inverse agonism in cytokine receptor superfamily.

Biochemical Pharmacology

Now a team reports that one serious side effect can be overcome by a subtle modification in the amino acid sequence of the promising drug.

Science Magazine

The emphasis is placed on CSMA with enhanced collision avoidance (CSMA/ECA), a subtle modification to CSMA/CA that uses a deterministic backoff after successful transmissions to avoid collisions.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Some roles of the Tβ4 and Tβ10 couple are linked to a subtle modification of their relative amounts [11].

Plosone

Low level fold-change acts in favor of a subtle modification of brain gene expression, much as has been suggested for task specialization [ 41].

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Comparison between the bright emissive compound 2 and the weak fluorescence compounds 1 and 3 clearly gives evidence that a subtle structure modification can arouse great property changes, which is instructive in designing new high-efficiency organic luminescent materials.

Journal of Molecular Structure

Detailed structure-activity relationships (SARs) studies on the aglycone of compound 1 indicated that the subtle modification of oleanolic acid as an aglycon has key influences on the antiviral activity.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Detailed structure activity relationships (SARs) studies on the aglycone of compound 3 indicated that both the type of pentacyclic triterpene and the subtle modification of ursolic acid as an aglycon had key influences on the antiviral activity.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Sait Faik's subtle modification to Abasiyanik means someone whose aba is scorched, itself a figurative expression for "a person desperately in love".

The Guardian - Books

However, we mention it as an example of how this approach may highlight networks of proteins, where subtle modification of multiple partners may result in cumulative disruption that would lead to disease under a multiplicative burden of rare variants model.

BioData Mining

That may have prompted Facebook to scale back its ambitions from true fork of Android to this more subtle modification.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a subtle modification" when you want to emphasize that a change is small and may not be immediately obvious. It is appropriate when describing improvements or adjustments that are carefully considered.

Common error

Avoid using "a subtle modification" when the change is actually quite significant. Doing so can mislead your audience about the impact of the modification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a subtle modification" functions as a noun phrase, where "subtle" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "modification". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a subtle modification" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that describes a small or delicate change. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, remember that it emphasizes the slight nature of the change, so avoid using it when the modification is actually significant. Alternatives include "a minor adjustment" or "a slight alteration". The examples provided by Ludwig show its application in various domains, from scientific research to media reporting, reinforcing its versatility and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor adjustment

Focuses on the small scale of the change.

a slight alteration

Emphasizes the delicate nature of the change.

a delicate adjustment

Highlights the precision involved in the change.

a small refinement

Suggests improvement through a minor change.

a marginal change

Indicates the change is barely noticeable.

a nuanced adjustment

Highlights the complexity of the small change.

a barely perceptible shift

Emphasizes the difficulty in noticing the change.

a gentle alteration

Suggests a smooth and gradual change.

a near-invisible change

Stresses the minimal visibility of the modification.

a touch of change

Indicates a very small degree of modification.

FAQs

How can I use "a subtle modification" in a sentence?

You can use "a subtle modification" to describe a minor change that improves something. For instance, "The chef made "a subtle modification" to the sauce, enhancing its flavor."

What's the difference between "a subtle modification" and "a major change"?

"A subtle modification" implies a small, often unnoticeable change, while "a major change" indicates a significant and obvious alteration. Use "a subtle modification" when the impact is minor; otherwise, opt for "a major change".

What can I say instead of "a subtle modification"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor adjustment", "a slight alteration", or "a delicate adjustment" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a subtle modification in" or "of" something?

Both "a subtle modification in" and "a subtle modification of" are grammatically correct, but they can imply slightly different relationships. "In" is often used when referring to a change within a system or process, while "of" often refers to a change to the thing itself.