adjust slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adjust slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to making a small change or modification to something. Example: "To improve the performance of the machine, you may need to adjust slightly the settings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The numbers, which are based on fast national ratings from Nielsen Media Research — so they could adjust slightly later this week — indicate that "Today" has been growing as the Olympics have gone on.

The New York Times

Density functional theory (DFT) demonstrated that it could be an effective way to adjust slightly the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of the organic small molecule.

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

"The kickers will have to adjust slightly though as the wind will be coming straight at you off the Aquinas End and the flow of air through the stadium will be completely different".

BBC

Subsequently, it would be feasible that Gs, Gi and Gq adjust slightly differently to the receptor conformation to allow optimal complementary intermolecular side-chain interactions in each case.

Plosone

Subsequently, it is feasible that the structures of Gs and Gq adjust slightly differently to the receptor conformation to allow in each case optimal complementary intermolecular side-chain interactions.

Plosone

The water boxes were also allowed to adjust slightly to constrain the water density to 0.997 g/L.

Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The ratings may be adjusted slightly by the time Nielsen officially releases them on Thursday.

The New York Times

Mr. Lhota has emphasized that the proposals could be adjusted slightly.

The New York Times

The range of amenities is reflected in the range in prices, which were adjusted slightly upward on April 1 , 2009 according to the train's Web site (www.gsr.com.au).au

The New York Times - Travel

It has 113 locations in Britain and one at 60 Broad Street in the financial district, where the menu has been adjusted slightly to reflect American tastes.

The New York Times

Executives at both networks noted that the ratings might be adjusted slightly by the time Nielsen officially releases them on Thursday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adjust slightly" in technical writing, ensure the context provides enough detail about what is being adjusted and why the adjustment is necessary for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "adjust slightly" when the change has a significant impact. Use stronger verbs like "transform" or "overhaul" to accurately reflect substantial changes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adjust slightly" functions as a verb phrase where "adjust" is the verb indicating an action of making a change, and "slightly" is an adverb modifying the verb to specify the degree of the adjustment. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "adjust slightly" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for indicating minor modifications. It appears most frequently in scientific, news, and wiki contexts. Ludwig confirms this phrase is suitable for general use. When employing this phrase, ensure the degree and nature of the adjustment are clear. Remember that while "slightly" implies a small change, it's essential to avoid overstating the impact of the adjustment. Alternative phrases such as "tweak marginally" or "modify subtly" can provide variety while maintaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tweak marginally

Uses "tweak" instead of "adjust", implying a more delicate adjustment, and "marginally" to emphasize the small degree.

modify subtly

Replaces "adjust" with "modify", suggesting a change in form or qualities, and "subtly" for a delicate change.

alter minimally

Substitutes "adjust" with "alter", indicating a change, and "minimally" for a slight degree.

change incrementally

Uses "change" as a general term for adjustment and "incrementally" to highlight that the change is happening in small steps.

revise gently

Replaces "adjust" with "revise", indicating a review and correction, and "gently" for a delicate touch.

fine-tune subtly

Uses "fine-tune", which implies making very small adjustments to optimize something, with "subtly" added for emphasis.

refine marginally

Replaces "adjust" with "refine", suggesting improvement through small changes, and uses "marginally" to indicate the slight degree.

correct delicately

Substitutes "adjust" with "correct", implying fixing an error, and "delicately" for a gentle approach.

regulate softly

Uses "regulate" to indicate controlling something, and "softly" for a gentle approach.

calibrate finely

Replaces "adjust" with "calibrate", implying precise adjustment to a standard, and "finely" for detail.

FAQs

What does "adjust slightly" mean?

The phrase "adjust slightly" means to make a small or minor change to something. It implies that the change is not drastic but is enough to make a difference.

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

You can use "adjust slightly" to describe making small corrections or modifications. For example, "You may need to "tweak marginally" the settings to improve performance".

What are some alternatives to "adjust slightly"?

Alternatives to "adjust slightly" include "modify subtly", "alter minimally", or "fine-tune subtly". These phrases all suggest making small changes.

When should I use "adjust slightly" versus "adjust significantly"?

Use "adjust slightly" when the change is minor and has a small impact. Use "adjust significantly" when the change is substantial and has a noticeable impact.