advance slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "advance slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate a small movement forward or progress in a particular direction or situation. Example: "To improve your performance, you should advance slightly in your understanding of the subject matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While Isis had managed to advance slightly in Hasaka on Friday, seizing one army position, heavy Syrian air force strikes hindered the attack, according to the Observatory.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index advanced slightly, rising 4.94 points, or 0.4percentto to 1,300.80.

The New York Times

Stocks advanced slightly on Friday but failed to avert the worst week for markets since June, as investors turned their attention from the presidential election to the coming negotiations over impending tax increases and spending cuts.

The New York Times

Patent reform advanced slightly in the courts, with one ruling prohibiting patent trolls from "fee shifting".

TechCrunch

However I do feel our understanding of the universe was advanced slightly.

Huffington Post

In swarming motility assays, differences among strains were observed in rich medium while in minimal medium only ΔXacFhaB advanced slightly.

Plosone

The presence of blood was confirmed in the catheter hub, and the catheter was advanced slightly at a reduced angle in an effort to avoid the posterior wall of the vein, as shown in Figure  1.

Critical Care

The 5 m diameter subway tunnel will advance through slightly to moderately weathered dacite and weak zones.

Engineering Geology

The breadth of the market's advance improved slightly from yesterday, but advancing issues only narrowly outstripped falling stocks at the Big Board and the Nasdaq exchange.

Forbes

The breadth of the markets advance improved slightly from earlier in the week, but advancing issues only narrowly outstripped falling stocks at the Big Board and the Nasdaq exchange.

Forbes

Advancing issues slightly outnumbered decliners on the New York Stock Exchange.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "advance slightly" to indicate minor progress or movement without exaggerating the extent of the change. It's suitable when the advancement is noticeable but not substantial.

Common error

Avoid using "advance slightly" when the actual progress is significant. Overusing the phrase can diminish the impact of more substantial achievements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "advance slightly" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "advance" is the verb indicating movement forward and "slightly" is an adverb modifying the verb to indicate the degree of advancement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "advance slightly" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to denote a minor degree of progress or movement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using "advance slightly", ensure the progress is indeed modest to avoid overstating the situation. Alternatives like ""progress marginally"" or ""move forward a little"" can offer similar nuances. Remember to choose the alternative that best aligns with the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progress marginally

Replaces "advance" with "progress" and "slightly" with "marginally", both indicating a small degree of forward movement.

move forward a little

Uses more common vocabulary to express the idea of a small forward movement.

improve marginally

Focuses on improvement rather than physical advancement, implying a slight positive change.

develop incrementally

Highlights the gradual nature of the advancement.

increase subtly

Emphasizes the small and almost imperceptible nature of the advancement.

edge forward a bit

Suggests a slow and cautious advancement.

creep ahead slowly

Implies a very gradual and almost stealthy advancement.

gain a little ground

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a small amount of progress.

make limited headway

Highlights the limited nature of the progress made.

inch its way ahead

Paints a picture of slow and laborious advancement.

FAQs

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

You can use "advance slightly" to describe a minor movement or improvement. For example: "The stock market "advanced slightly" after the positive economic report."

What are some alternatives to "advance slightly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "progress marginally", "move forward a little", or "improve incrementally". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct: "advance slightly" or "slightly advance"?

"Advance slightly" is the more common and natural word order. "Slightly advance" is grammatically correct, but sounds less idiomatic.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "advance slightly"?

The phrase "advance slightly" is appropriate in various contexts such as describing financial markets, scientific progress, or gradual improvements in a process. It indicates modest positive change without implying a major breakthrough.