by a small degree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by a small degree" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a slight change or difference in a particular context, often in discussions of measurements or comparisons. Example: "The temperature increased by a small degree, but it was enough to notice a difference."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Regulating rods are deliberately designed to affect reactivity only by a small degree.

Britannica

Soils in Qatar are marked by a small degree of organic material and are generally calcareous and agriculturally unproductive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although many nucleotide changes that can occur in DNA have no effect on the fitness of the cell, if the nucleotide change enhances the growth of that cell even by a small degree, then the mutant form would be able to increase its relative numbers in the population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, this situation becomes different when the driving force is deviated from the uniform profile even by a small degree.

Earth, Planets and Space

Compared to the BAU 2030 scenario, domestic household food consumption is expected to decline by a small degree under the CKM 2030 scenario.

Journal of Economic Structures

"Homeostatic scaling down" weakens the synapses that connect neurons but in a uniform way and by a small degree, so the relative strength of the synapses remains intact, and learning and memory formation can continue.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

But if any of the parameters are out by even a small degree, the errors will expand as Philae heads downwards.

BBC

Prescription is not influenced by gender, to a small degree influenced by socioeconomic status and to a large degree by age and concomitant diseases.

BMC Family Practice

These results suggested that Ser was modified by autophosphorylation, whereas Ser is phosphorylated by Akt, with a small degree of autophosphorylation.

Biochemical Journal

However, another Myc regulator, Mnt [ 47], was increased by BCR activation to a small degree.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

There are those that argue that the relationships between socioeconomic background and educational achievement are only moderate and the effects of SES are quite small when taking into account cognitive ability or prior achievement.16 Cognitive ability is deemed to be a genetic quality and its effects only influenced to a small degree by schools.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by a small degree" to precisely indicate a slight change or difference when quantitative precision isn't crucial but the relative change matters. This phrase works well when discussing trends, effects, or adjustments.

Common error

Avoid using "by a small degree" when the actual numerical difference is significant, even if the proportional change seems small. It can mislead readers into thinking the change is inconsequential, when in fact the absolute value is very high.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a small degree" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the extent or magnitude of a change or effect. Ludwig shows its frequent use to describe slight alterations or influences. For example, "domestic household food consumption is expected to decline by a small degree".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by a small degree" is a commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a minor or subtle change. It's grammatically correct and finds use in various contexts, including science, news, encyclopedias and academia. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for describing slight differences or influences and it's advisable to ensure that the context aligns with a change that is truly of small impact and it does not mislead the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to a slight extent

Replaces "degree" with "extent" focusing on the scope of the impact.

to a minor degree

Substitutes "small" with "minor", emphasizing the insignificance of the change.

by a narrow margin

Uses "margin" instead of "degree", suggesting a close or tight difference.

to a limited extent

Replaces "small degree" with "limited extent" highlighting the restriction of the impact.

by a hair's breadth

Emphasizes the extreme smallness of the difference using a figurative expression.

to a marginal extent

Swaps "small" with "marginal", stressing the border-line significance of the impact.

by a subtle amount

Uses "amount" instead of "degree", and "subtle" instead of "small", focusing on the barely perceptible nature of the change.

to a negligible degree

Highlights the insignificance of the degree, implying it's almost non-existent.

in a limited capacity

Uses "capacity" instead of "degree" and "limited" instead of "small", shifting the focus to the constrained ability.

by a fractional amount

Uses "fractional" to indicate that the degree is just a small part of the whole.

FAQs

How can I use "by a small degree" in a sentence?

You can use "by a small degree" to describe a slight change or difference, such as: "The temperature increased "by a small degree" overnight."

What are some alternatives to saying "by a small degree"?

Alternatives include "to a slight extent", "to a minor degree", or "by a narrow margin" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "by a small degree" in formal writing?

Yes, "by a small degree" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you want to convey a subtle or relatively insignificant change. However, make sure the absolute change is aligned with the reader expectation for the term "small degree".

What's the difference between "by a small degree" and "by a large degree"?

"By a small degree" indicates a minor or slight change, while "by a large degree" suggests a significant or substantial change. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you're describing.