a weak match

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a weak match" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that is not a good or suitable match for something else. For example: - "The color of the dress was a weak match for her skin tone." - "The team's performance was a weak match for their strong start to the season." - "The new intern's skills were a weak match for the job requirements." In each of these sentences, "a weak match" is used to describe something that does not match well with something else. It can be used to express a lack of compatibility, suitability, or effectiveness.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

As shown in the figure, it was more common to have a robust match against the INR PSPM and a weak match against FPR than the reverse.

BMC Genomics

The E-values thus obtained were converted to scores between 0 and 1, with 0 representing a strong match and 1 representing a weak match.

BMC Systems Biology

AET-670 has a weak match to the PFAM UDPGT motif and is similar to proteins in the nonredundant (NR) database annotated as UDP-glucosyl transferase.

BMC Genomics

Interestingly, a weak match was detected between this region of certain FAM20 family members and a conserved domain within the phosphatidylinositol 3- and 4-kinases [ 13]; however additional experiments must be performed to address the relevance of this similarity.

BMC Genomics

The srz family gave no psi-blast hits outside of its own family in Caenorhabditis but gave a weak match to a PFAM 7-pass receptor profile (PF01748) and many members were identified as GPCR proteins by GPCRHMM [ 52].

BMC Biology

It should be noted that the EF domains are a weak match to the eukaryotic consensus, and when we performed binding assays between recombinant PITG_08008 and Ca2+ negative results were obtained.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's a weak match-up from the Darwinian perspective but I'm going to have to go with the idea that Jayhawks could at least peck you to death.

Huffington Post

Among these, 32% show a close match to the p63 consensus (strong motif) while the remaining 41.3% are a weaker match (Additional file 1: Figure S1).

BMC Genomics

Two DM containing proteins were confidently predicted to contain EH1-like motifs – human DMRT2 (bit score 11.6), and Drosophila dmrt11e (bit score 11.2) – these are likely orthologs; a C. elegans protein, C27C12.6 contained a weaker match (bit score 6.6).

BMC Genomics

Human DUSP27 is on chromosome 1q24 and, like its zebrafish ortholog, is adjacent to a gene encoding POU class 2 homeobox 1. Zebrafish dusp27 has a weaker match (43% identity over 169 amino acids) to the human gene dual specificity phosphatase and pro isomerase domain containing 1 (DUPD1, HUGO #23481, GenBank NM_001003892 on chr. 10q22).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Interestingly, the sequence of the binding site for Rap1 at the silencers is distinct from the genome-wide binding profile of Rap1, being a weaker match to the consensus, and indeed is bound with low affinity relative to the consensus sequence.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a weak match", clarify the specific criteria or aspects in which the match is weak to provide more context and prevent misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a weak match" as a strong indicator or reliable basis for conclusions. Ensure your analysis reflects the limited value of a weak correlation or similarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a weak match" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as an object or a complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. It describes something that has a poor or insubstantial connection to something else, indicating a low degree of similarity or correlation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a weak match" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a poor or insubstantial connection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for describing scenarios where a relationship exists but is not strong or reliable. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it maintains a neutral register. While examples are relatively limited, indicating it is not overly common, the phrase is readily understood and can be effectively used to temper expectations or downplay the significance of a connection. Consider alternatives like "a poor fit" or "a tenuous link" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a poor fit

Indicates a general lack of suitability or compatibility.

a loose connection

Suggests a tenuous or unsubstantial link between elements.

a tenuous link

Emphasizes the fragility or insubstantial nature of the connection.

a slim chance

Highlights the low probability of a successful pairing or outcome.

a distant parallel

Implies that similarities are present but not immediately obvious or strong.

a rough approximation

Indicates that something is only vaguely similar to the desired result.

a faint resemblance

Stresses the subtle and not very noticeable similarity.

a marginal correlation

Suggests a slight but not statistically significant relationship.

an imperfect alignment

Highlights discrepancies and deviations from a perfect correspondence.

a remote analogy

Points out a connection that is not direct or obvious.

FAQs

How can I use "a weak match" in a sentence?

You can use "a weak match" to describe something that has a poor or insubstantial connection to something else. For example, "The evidence provided only showed "a weak match" between the suspect's DNA and the crime scene samples."

What are some alternatives to saying "a weak match"?

Alternatives to "a weak match" include "a poor fit", "a tenuous link", or "a slim chance", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a weak match"?

Yes, the phrase "a weak match" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both spoken and written English.

What does it mean when something is described as "a weak match"?

When something is described as "a weak match", it means that there is some similarity or connection, but it is not strong, reliable, or significant. It suggests that the two things being compared are not very well aligned or compatible.