depend slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "depend slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a minor or limited reliance on something or someone. Example: "The outcome of the experiment may depend slightly on the temperature at which it is conducted."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Note that K's values depend slightly on the temperature of the material due to the temperature dependence of the lattice constant.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Or the speed of a light wave could depend slightly on its color, an effect, astronomers say, that could be detected by future observations of gamma ray bursters, enormous explosions on the far side of the universe.

The New York Times - Science

They depend slightly on the interface resistance.

Chemical Engineering Science

The spectral positions of these bands were found to depend slightly on the particle size, which could be tuned by varying the annealing conditions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The energetic distribution of surface sites has been shown to depend slightly on the metal loading and it can be modified by the pretreatment conditions.

Catalysis Today

The activation energy was found to depend slightly on conversion, suggesting that the combustion was a single-step process for both materials.

Combustion and Flame

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Was it actually really dull, or was it just a boy film?" Well yes, it is violent, and it depends slightly on an awareness of the conventions of gangster films, but it has character development and moral conundrums.

The Guardian - Film

The expansivity also depends slightly on the volatile content (Kaiura and Toguri 1979).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

The experimental results showed that the disintegration rate depended slightly on the temperature and salt concentration.

Electrochimica Acta

The ratio depended slightly on the degree of crystallinity of the initial powder and processing parameters of the coating preparation.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This is due to the fact that (29) depends slightly on (γ k,η k ) when |b/a| is small.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "depend slightly" to indicate a relationship where one factor has a minor influence on another, but is not the sole determinant. This is useful when precision is needed without overstating the case.

Common error

Avoid using "depend slightly" when the relationship is actually strong or critical. This weakens your argument and can mislead the reader. Instead, choose stronger words if the dependence is significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depend slightly" primarily functions as a verb phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the degree to which something relies on or is influenced by something else. Ludwig provides examples showcasing this function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "depend slightly" is a useful tool for expressing a relationship where one factor has a minor influence on another. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is grammatically sound and appears across diverse fields like science, news, and general knowledge. While it is not as common as other expressions of dependence, its precision makes it valuable in situations where a qualified statement is needed. It's important to avoid overstating the dependence when using this phrase; if the relationship is strong, stronger language is more appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this phrase for use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a slight reliance on

Directly mirrors the original phrase, but with a noun-based structure.

rely somewhat

Suggests a partial reliance, similar to a slight dependence.

be subtly dependent on

Highlights the subtlety of the dependence.

be somewhat contingent

Implies a conditionality that is not absolute, but still present.

be somewhat subject to

Conveys the idea of being under the influence of something, but not entirely.

be mildly influenced by

Focuses on the influence aspect, suggesting a weak influence.

hinge minimally on

Implies that something relies on something else to a small degree.

be partially determined by

Highlights the determination aspect, with a partial effect.

be marginally affected by

Emphasizes the effect, which is only marginal.

be loosely connected to

Indicates a connection that is not strong or direct.

FAQs

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

You can use "depend slightly" to show a minor influence or reliance. For example: "The success of the project may "depend slightly" on the weather conditions."

What are some alternatives to "depend slightly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "rely somewhat", "be mildly influenced by", or "be partially determined by". The best choice will depend on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "depend slightly" or "depend a lot"?

The choice between "depend slightly" and "depend a lot" depends entirely on the strength of the relationship you're describing. "Depend slightly" indicates a minor influence, while "depend a lot" indicates a significant influence. Use the phrase that most accurately reflects the situation.

What does "depend slightly" imply about the factors involved?

"Depend slightly" implies that while one factor does have an impact, it is not the primary or only factor at play. Other influences are likely more significant in determining the outcome.