adapt slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adapt slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are suggesting to modify something in a minor or subtle way. For example, "We should adapt the game slightly to make it easier for younger players."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For us as a team that's what it's about – international rugby's a tough place and we have to adapt slightly quicker".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Just don't be last!" But by race day, either I've adapted slightly or the adrenaline has kicked in.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As it happens, the words of his hirsute fellow Texans, adapted slightly, could serve as Armstrong's motto: He's got legs and he knows how to use them.

The Guardian - Sport

For a batch of macadamia and coconut balls, for example, based on this recipe, with the ingredients adapted slightly to mirror as far as possible those found the Macadamia and Coconut Bounce Ball, you're looking at a cost of about £1.15 per 100g, compared to the shop-bought price of £5 per 100g.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Adapted slightly from Mission Street Food (McSweeney's, 2011).

Huffington Post

The style varied slightly by architect and location, but typically the cemeteries followed classical influences in buildings and monuments, sometimes adapted slightly to appeal to the style of a particular Dominion.

Wikipedia

In its early life, the Game Gear was blessed with numerous Master System ports, adapted slightly for life on the small screen which was no bad thing, as this was an era when Sega was lavishing as much attention on their 8bit systems as it was the 16bit Mega Drive/Genesis.

Vice

The Checklist will be adapted slightly for use with the comparison group.

BMC Palliative Care

The English I-CAM-Q questionnaire was translated into German, and adapted slightly.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Brisk-sustained cells responded strongly initially and then adapted slightly over the rest of the stimuli.

eLife

In 2011, GOLD presented a new classification system, which was adapted slightly in 2013 [ 8].

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing adapting to a new environment in general use "adapt" without further qualifications to emphasize that the action of adopting to an environment is complex in general and is not limited to a slight change.

Common error

While "adapt slightly" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your text sound less impactful. Consider stronger verbs or more descriptive adverbs to add precision. E.g. instead of adapting to a new environment, use "acclimatizing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adapt slightly" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a minor modification or adjustment. It suggests a change that is not drastic but sufficient to meet a specific need or context. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adapt slightly" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase indicating a minor adjustment or modification. While Ludwig AI notes it's suitable for general use, it is more frequently found in scientific and news-related contexts. The phrase conveys a sense of subtle change or adjustment to improve suitability, effectiveness, or to account for differences. When writing, consider alternative phrases like "modify marginally" or "adjust subtly" for nuanced expression, and avoid overuse in very formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modify marginally

This alternative focuses on the degree of change, emphasizing the small extent of the modification.

adjust subtly

This alternative highlights the finesse and delicacy of the adjustment made.

tweak gently

This alternative suggests a careful and delicate adjustment.

revise minimally

This alternative underlines the small amount of revision needed.

alter imperceptibly

This alternative emphasizes that the alteration is almost unnoticeable.

change incrementally

This alternative focuses on the gradual nature of the change.

refine gradually

This alternative highlights the process of gradual improvement.

reshape modestly

This alternative underlines the unassuming way the thing will be reshaped.

rework lightly

This alternative suggests a light revision to something.

transform gently

This alternative indicates that the transformation will be subtle.

FAQs

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

You can use "adapt slightly" to indicate that something is being modified in a minor or subtle way. For example, "We need to "adjust slightly" the recipe to suit local ingredients".

What are some alternatives to "adapt slightly"?

Some alternatives to "adapt slightly" include "modify marginally", "adjust subtly", or "tweak gently", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "adapted slightly" instead of "adapt slightly"?

"Adapted slightly" is the past tense form, used when describing something that has already been modified. "Adapt slightly" is the infinitive form, used when suggesting or describing the act of modifying. For example: "The recipe was "adapted slightly" to reduce the sugar content" (past) vs "We should adapt it slightly" (present/future).

What's the difference between "adapt slightly" and "adopt slightly"?

"Adapt slightly" means to modify something in a minor way, while "adopt slightly" is not a common or standard phrase. "Adopt" generally means to take something up or start using it. It's more common to "adapt slightly", rather than 'adopt slightly'.