diminished slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "diminished slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a small reduction in size, amount, or intensity of something. Example: "The noise from the construction site diminished slightly as the sun began to set."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

His ice time has diminished slightly.

The New York Times - Sports

The peak level and duration of his attacks diminished slightly.

The New Yorker

While it remained expensive for companies to borrow money for longer-term needs, those rates also diminished slightly.

The New York Times

The squeaking diminished slightly, so it was worth the effort, but I was disappointed that the squeak wasn't gone.

The New York Times

The call was diminished slightly by Flemming's waiting 40 seconds before he cited Hank Aaron as the first to reach 755 career home runs.

The New York Times - Sports

The rules are streamlined, the games made shorter and more accessible, and the role-playing element, often a stumbling point for newcomers, diminished slightly.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

With each new release, the experience of watching the Super Bowl diminishes slightly.

The New Yorker

Megan's life perks up a bit and her sadness diminishes slightly.

The Guardian

When Thompson left the stage, the force of the play seemed to diminish slightly.

The New Yorker

There is some evidence that it diminishes slightly after the age of 70.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But it also says little about the declining strength of the dollar and actually predicts that real growth in gross domestic product will diminish slightly after 2008.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "diminished slightly", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being reduced. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "diminished slightly" when the reduction is actually significant. Choose a stronger term like "decreased considerably" or "reduced substantially" to accurately reflect the extent of the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "diminished slightly" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the extent to which something has decreased. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to qualify a reduction in various contexts, such as intensity, size, or quantity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "diminished slightly" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a minor reduction or decrease. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, showcasing numerous examples across varied contexts, from science to news media. While the phrase has a neutral to formal tone, remember to consider the specific audience and ensure the reduction is indeed slight to avoid overstatement. Some alternatives include "reduced somewhat" or "decreased marginally". Its high occurrence in both scientific and news-related articles suggests its wide acceptance in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased marginally

Replaces "diminished" with "decreased" and "slightly" with "marginally", both implying a small reduction.

lessened a bit

Uses more informal terms, "lessened" instead of "diminished" and "a bit" instead of "slightly".

reduced somewhat

Substitutes "diminished" with "reduced" and "slightly" with "somewhat", maintaining a similar level of formality.

eased off a little

Employs a more colloquial expression, replacing "diminished" with "eased off" and "slightly" with "a little".

subsided gently

Replaces "diminished" with "subsided" which suggest a more gradual decrease, and "slightly" with "gently".

abated marginally

Uses "abated" for "diminished", conveying a reduction in intensity, and "marginally" for "slightly".

waned subtly

Replaces "diminished" with "waned", suggesting a fading away, and "slightly" with "subtly".

tapered off gradually

Employs "tapered off", indicating a gradual reduction, and replaces "slightly" with "gradually" which reinforce the idea of a decrease over time.

moderately decreased

Swaps "diminished" for "decreased" and "slightly" for "moderately", indicating a noticeable but not substantial reduction.

notably declined

Uses "declined" instead of "diminished" which indicates a downward trend, and replace "slightly" with "notably".

FAQs

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

You can use "diminished slightly" to describe a minor reduction in something. For example, "The noise from the construction site "diminished slightly" as the evening approached."

What are some alternatives to "diminished slightly"?

Some alternatives include "reduced somewhat", "decreased marginally", or "lessened a bit", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "diminished slightly" or "decreased a bit"?

"Diminished slightly" is generally considered more formal than "decreased a bit". The choice depends on the intended audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What is the difference between ""diminished slightly"" and "completely disappeared"?

"Diminished slightly" indicates a small reduction, while "completely disappeared" means something is entirely gone. The terms describe different degrees of change.