almost noticeable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost noticeable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly perceptible or detectable, but not quite fully so. Example: "The changes in the design were almost noticeable, but only to those who had seen the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"American buyers are almost noticeable by their absence at the moment," Mr. Flint said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The most noticeable example is the p16 INK4a gene that has been frequently hypermethylated in almost all types of the tumors examined [ 14- 17] including hepatocellular carcinoma [ 18].

BMC Cancer

Most noticeable were miniskirts.

The New York Times - Style

But the Los Angeles Music Center has sat across the street from the site of Disney Hall for nearly forty years with almost no noticeable effect on the nearby area.

The New Yorker

Of the 142 countries ranked in the 2014 Gender Gap Index, Ethiopia ranks 127th, making almost no noticeable progress in the past nine years.

The Guardian

Mr. Shkury said the rezoning was heavily supported by the Harlem Community Boards 10 and 11, and the change had an almost immediately noticeable effect: "We just sold a shell along Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 115th and 116th Street for $975,000.

The New York Times

These wafer-thin iPods can be stashed anywhere on the body with almost no noticeable bulge.

TechCrunch

There is almost no noticeable difference in the unconditional Favre mean predictions by the CMC and SLFM.

Combustion and Flame

Streaming performance is also very impressive, with almost no noticeable lag in most conditions, nor much in the way of graphical deterioration when your network conditions are optimal.

TechCrunch

Comparison shows that our method yields comparable output as the HDRI approach by Oh et al. [20], which also yields almost no noticeable artifacts for the given image sequence.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

For the sake of standardization and in consideration for the extremely proprietary nature of Mac's hardware and software, I will probably only make a PC hardware version at first, but if you have your heart set on Mac, there are many simple ways to install the Mac OS on a PC laptop with almost no noticeable differences in function.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost noticeable" to describe subtle changes or features that might escape casual observation. This is particularly useful in technical writing or when detailing minor differences.

Common error

Avoid using "almost noticeable" when something is clearly obvious. This can weaken your description and make it seem less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost noticeable" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes a quality that is close to being perceived or detected, but not fully realized. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it qualifies the degree of perceptibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost noticeable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something that is nearly perceptible. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to qualify the extent to which something can be observed or detected. It is used across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing, to indicate subtlety and nuance. Related phrases like "barely perceptible" and "nearly imperceptible" can be used as alternatives depending on the precise meaning intended. Using "almost noticeable" effectively involves understanding the subtle difference between something being barely there and something truly unnoticeable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely perceptible

Emphasizes the slightness of perception, indicating something is only just noticeable.

hardly discernible

Highlights the difficulty in distinguishing or recognizing something.

nearly imperceptible

Focuses on the fact that something is close to being impossible to perceive.

faintly visible

Specifically relates to visual perception, indicating something is only just seen.

slightly detectable

Indicates something can be detected, but only just.

scarcely detectable

Stresses the minimal level at which something can be detected.

virtually unnoticeable

Implies something is so close to being unnoticeable that it's almost the same.

subtly apparent

Indicates something is noticeable in a delicate or understated way.

marginally perceptible

Emphasizes the edge of being perceptible, where it's barely noticed.

just about visible

Indicates that something is at the limit of being seen or noticeable

FAQs

How can I use "almost noticeable" in a sentence?

You can use "almost noticeable" to describe something that is nearly perceptible but not entirely. For example: "The difference in color was "almost noticeable" under direct sunlight".

What are some alternatives to "almost noticeable"?

Some alternatives include "barely perceptible", "hardly discernible", or "nearly imperceptible" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "almost noticeable" or "scarcely noticeable"?

"Almost noticeable" suggests something is just on the verge of being noticed, while "scarcely noticeable" implies it's difficult to notice at all. The choice depends on the degree of perceptibility you want to convey.

What's the difference between "almost noticeable" and "slightly noticeable"?

"Almost noticeable" implies something is close to being apparent, while "slightly noticeable" indicates it is definitely apparent, but to a small degree. "Slightly noticeable" confirms perception; "almost noticeable" suggests potential perception.