far too slight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far too slight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is insufficient or inadequate in size, amount, or degree. Example: "The changes made to the proposal were far too slight to have any real impact on the project's outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The tale is far too slight to sustain the symbolism packed into it.

The New York Times - Books

Plaza, by contrast, has a role that, though far too slight and underconceived, meshes well with her comedic virtuosity.

The New Yorker

Though his side mirror was sheared off, the bumping of his taxi was deemed far too slight for him to lose control.

The New York Times

Not Copacabana bikini skimpy, but far too slight for such a big place: hence the queue of ships idling off Rio's beaches, waiting for a slot at its overburdened port.

The Economist

If you haven't heard: Disney, the company that immortalized pale pretties like Snow White and the zip-a-dee-doo-dah of plantation living in "Song of the South," has made a fairy tale about a black heroine, a character whose shoulders and story prove far too slight for all the hopes already weighing her down.

The New York Times

Because Neptune was only beginning its yearly retrograde cycle, the motion of the planet was far too slight to be detected with Galileo's small telescope.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Far too little, far too late.

BBC

(And for all his complaints about the lack of interest in contemporary philosophy among scientists, his own preference for the early-19th-century German idealist philosophy of Friedrich Schelling, to which he devotes a far-too-slight section, doesn't exactly give you much confidence that they are missing much).

The New York Times - Books

That would have been true even for someone of George Osborne's elevated stock, but these days we are far too liberal about such slights – meaning the chancellor feels confident he can safely blame the country's economic woes on the House of Windsor (when he can't pin it on Ed Balls or the Greeks).

The Guardian - Business

Too little, far too late.

The New York Times

It's far too early to have the slightest idea what Kramer will do.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "far too slight", ensure the context clearly establishes what standard or expectation is not being met. For example, "The evidence presented was "far too slight" to support the sweeping claims made in the report."

Common error

Avoid using "far too slight" to describe something that is merely different from expectations, not objectively insufficient. For example, if a design choice is simply not preferred, it's more accurate to say it's "unconventional" rather than "far too slight".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too slight" functions as an adverbial intensifier modifying the adjective "slight". It indicates that something is insufficient to a significant degree. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far too slight" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that something is significantly insufficient. While Ludwig confirms its validity, it appears with relative infrequency in diverse sources. Its function is to critically assess a deficiency, and it can be used in various contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context makes it clear what standard is not being met and avoid using it to describe something that is merely different from expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insufficient by far

Inverts the original structure while keeping the core meaning.

utterly insufficient

Uses "utterly" for emphasis, highlighting a complete lack of the necessary quality or amount.

completely inadequate

Similar to "utterly insufficient", but replaces it with "completely", indicating a total absence of adequacy.

woefully inadequate

Replaces "far too slight" with stronger, more formal terms conveying a significant lack of sufficiency.

noticeably insufficient

Highlights that the insufficiency is easily observed or apparent.

not nearly enough

A more colloquial way of expressing that something is significantly lacking.

manifestly inadequate

Suggests the inadequacy is clear and obvious.

lamentably deficient

A more formal and literary way of saying something is regrettably lacking.

distinctly meager

Emphasizes the sparseness and inadequacy of something.

pathetically small

Emphasizes the smallness of something in a way that evokes pity or contempt.

FAQs

What does "far too slight" mean?

The phrase "far too slight" means something is much less than what is needed or expected. It indicates a significant deficiency in size, amount, or quality.

How can I use "far too slight" in a sentence?

You can use "far too slight" to describe anything that is insufficient. For example: "The evidence was "utterly insufficient"", or "His contribution was "woefully inadequate"".

Are there alternatives to saying "far too slight"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "woefully inadequate", "utterly insufficient", or "noticeably insufficient" depending on the context.

Is "far too slight" formal or informal?

"Far too slight" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Its suitability depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone than on the phrase itself.