but sluggishly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but sluggishly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that is performed slowly or with a lack of energy. Example: "The car moved forward, but sluggishly, as it struggled to gain speed on the uphill road."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, or ipRGCs, these relatively crude sensors are unable to pick up on low levels of light — from a dim night light, for example — but sluggishly signal light changes.

The Washington Post

Mfs motility scores (viability) were done on a scale of 0 (immotile), through 0.25 (only tail or head shaking occasionally), through 0.5 (whole body motile, but sluggishly or with difficulties), to 1 (almost vigorous to vigorous motility).

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

Mfs motility reduction (viability reduction) were done on a scale of 100% (immotile), through 75% (only tail or head shaking occasionally), through 50% (whole body motile, but sluggishly or with difficulties), to 25% (almost vigorous) to 0% (fully vigorous motility).

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

His team won its first three exhibition games, routing the Dominican Republic and Britain but playing sluggishly against Brazil.

The New York Times - Sports

Official statistics say that the economy has been growing for nearly 15 months, but so sluggishly that most people seem to think it is still in recession.

The Economist

Cells explanted from such animals have no steady state defect in ER thiol redox poise, but recover sluggishly from reductive excursions [ 9].

BMC Biology

The job market has been improving, sluggishly but steadily.

The Guardian - Business

There real value-added rose only sluggishly, but employment expanded significantly.

The Economist

Light industry registered significant gains, while heavy industry responded more sluggishly but showed some improvement.

Britannica

By the third and final minute-long round, the men ate sluggishly but dutifully.

The New York Times - Food

Harry Kane began the day sluggishly but ended up scoring his 35th goal of the season.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but sluggishly", ensure the contrast introduced by "but" is genuinely relevant and that "sluggishly" accurately describes the manner of action. Avoid redundancy by ensuring "sluggishly" adds meaningful detail beyond the contrast alone.

Common error

Avoid using "but sluggishly" in very simple sentences where a direct adjective or adverb would be more effective. For instance, instead of "The program ran, but sluggishly", consider "The program ran sluggishly" for a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but sluggishly" functions as an adverbial modifier, providing additional information about the verb in the sentence. It specifies how an action is performed, indicating a lack of energy or speed, while also introducing a contrast, as highlighted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "but sluggishly" is grammatically correct and usable in written English, according to Ludwig AI. While relatively rare, it effectively conveys an action performed slowly and lacking energy, while also introducing a contrast. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the contrast is meaningful and avoid redundancy in simple sentences. Consider synonyms like "yet lethargically" or "however slowly" for alternative expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet lethargically

Replaces "sluggishly" with "lethargically", emphasizing a lack of energy. "Yet" replaces "but" to introduce a similar contrast.

however slowly

"However" substitutes "but", while "slowly" directly replaces "sluggishly", focusing on the pace.

though with hesitation

Instead of slow movement, this highlights reluctance or delay in action, keeping the contrasting element.

although with difficulty

Shifts the focus from slowness to the effort involved, retaining the contrasting element introduced by "although".

but with a lack of vigor

Replaces "sluggishly" with a phrase that emphasizes the absence of energy or enthusiasm, preserving the contrast.

yet with some delay

Highlights the element of slowness as a delay, using "yet" to maintain the contrasting effect.

however, not energetically

Replaces sluggish action with a lack of energetic action, where the emphasis is on absence of energy and enthusiasm.

though somewhat inertly

Substitutes "sluggishly" with "inertly", suggesting a lack of activity or responsiveness while "though" adds contrast.

but in a listless manner

Highlights a lack of enthusiasm with the expression "listless manner", replacing the more direct term.

yet without enthusiasm

Focuses specifically on the lack of enthusiasm, while "yet" maintains the contrasting relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "but sluggishly" in a sentence?

Use "but sluggishly" to contrast an action with its manner, indicating it's slow or lacking energy. For example, "The car started, "but sluggishly", struggling to climb the hill."

What are some alternatives to "but sluggishly"?

Alternatives include "yet lethargically", "however slowly", or "though with hesitation", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between saying "but sluggishly" and "sluggishly"?

Yes, "sluggishly" simply describes the manner of action. "But sluggishly" introduces a contrast. For example, "The team advanced, "but sluggishly"" implies they advanced despite being slow, while "The team advanced sluggishly" just describes their slow advance.

Is "but sluggishly" a formal or informal phrase?

The phrase "but sluggishly" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. It is typically found in news articles, scientific writing, and professional communications, as evidenced by its use in sources like The New York Times and academic papers.