fallen slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fallen slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor decrease or reduction in something, such as prices, temperatures, or performance. Example: "The stock prices have fallen slightly over the past week, indicating a minor market adjustment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The popularity of the crossbenchers has fallen slightly.

The Guardian

I've fallen slightly in love with Penguin's Great Food series.

Independent

He said the dividend had fallen slightly short.

The Guardian - Business

Their incomes appear to have fallen slightly, but they seem to spend more.

The Economist

At first glance, the proportion of species at risk seemed to have fallen slightly.

The Economist

The prediction for growth in Britain in 2001 has also fallen slightly, to 2.3%.

The Economist

The debt to GDP ratio has fallen slightly under Mr Uribe.

The Economist

As a result, Florida has fallen slightly on our tipping-point list.

The New York Times

The rate of "redundancy" for Anglican churches has fallen slightly in recent years.

The Economist

Average weekly earnings in finance and business services have fallen slightly this year.

The Economist

The amount of leisure time that parents have has fallen slightly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fallen slightly", ensure the context provides a clear reference point for the decrease. For example, "Profits have "fallen slightly" compared to last quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "fallen slightly" when the decrease is significant. Use stronger terms like "plummeted" or "dropped sharply" to accurately reflect the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fallen slightly" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the extent to which something has decreased. As shown by Ludwig, this construction is common in describing trends, values, or performance metrics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fallen slightly" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to describe a minor decrease. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While it's crucial to use the phrase accurately, avoiding exaggeration, it serves as a valuable tool for providing nuanced descriptions of change. Related phrases like "decreased marginally" and "dropped a bit" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts. Based on the provided data, "fallen slightly" is well-established and appropriate for various writing styles that are neither too formal nor informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased marginally

Replaces "fallen" with "decreased" and "slightly" with "marginally", both indicating a small amount.

dropped a bit

"Dropped" replaces "fallen", conveying the same sense of reduction, and "a bit" replaces "slightly" for a more informal tone.

declined somewhat

"Declined" is a more formal synonym for "fallen", while "somewhat" offers a slightly stronger sense of decrease than "slightly".

reduced incrementally

Focuses on the gradual nature of the decrease, replacing "fallen" with "reduced" and "slightly" with "incrementally".

eased off a little

Uses a more idiomatic expression to describe a mild reduction in intensity or amount.

slipped a notch

Emphasizes a small downward shift, replacing "fallen" with "slipped" and "slightly" with "a notch".

lessened gradually

Highlights the slow and steady nature of the decrease, using "lessened" as a synonym for "fallen".

diminished subtly

Indicates a decrease that is hard to notice, replacing "fallen" with "diminished" and "slightly" with "subtly".

softened negligibly

Suggests that the decrease is so small as to be almost insignificant, using "softened" as a synonym for "fallen".

tapered off slowly

Conveys a gradual decrease over time, replacing "fallen" with "tapered off" and "slightly" with "slowly".

FAQs

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

You can use "fallen slightly" to describe a minor reduction or decrease. For example, "The temperature has "fallen slightly" overnight" or "The company's stock price has "fallen slightly" since the announcement".

What are some alternatives to "fallen slightly"?

Alternatives include "decreased marginally", "dropped a bit", or "declined somewhat", depending on the formality and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "slightly fallen" instead of "fallen slightly"?

While "slightly fallen" isn't grammatically incorrect, "fallen slightly" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Slightly fallen" might be used in specific poetic or stylized contexts, but "fallen slightly" is generally preferred for clarity and conventional usage.

What's the difference between "fallen slightly" and "fallen significantly"?

"Fallen slightly" indicates a minor decrease, while "fallen significantly" implies a substantial and noteworthy reduction. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you're describing.