fluctuate slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

"fluctuate slightly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means that a value or quantity changes by a slight or small amount. For example: The temperature in the room tended to fluctuate slightly throughout the day.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

(The numbers will fluctuate slightly as unresolved races settle).

The New York Times

Officials and scientists dispute whether the amounts in groundwater, usually 4 to 100 parts per billion, are enough to suppress hormone levels in people, which fluctuate slightly anyway.

The New York Times - Science

"It is not unusual for live listening figures to fluctuate slightly and it is natural we would see this reflected in individual programmes.

The Guardian

While money market funds keep a constant $1 net asset value, most ultrashort funds fluctuate slightly; that is the offset for the enhanced yield.

The New York Times

The numbers did seem to fluctuate slightly during this period — with Mr. Obama polling especially well just after the release of the "47 percent" tape, but then fading a bit early last week, even before the debate.

The New York Times

In reality, curves will fluctuate slightly even in normal conditions.

Security Informatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

ROG fluctuated slightly during initial 2 ns of simulations followed by higher fluctuations up to 7 ns [Figure 2].

BMC Genomics

The average article length fluctuated slightly, with an overall average length of 7.9 pages.

Applied Water Science

The mean velocity of each pedestrian in the corridor displays a trend that decreases sharply at the beginning and then fluctuates slightly around the mean value.

Fire Safety Journal

The ζ-potential during the period fluctuated slightly but stayed in a narrow range between −10 and −16 mV, with an increased variation.

Nanoscale Research Letters

In the case of θ = 0° with Δ y = 0 mm, the velocity of the P-Gear fluctuated slightly at relatively high frequency (see Fig. 12).

ROBOMECH Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fluctuate slightly" to describe minor variations or changes in data, statistics, or physical quantities where precision isn't critical. This adds nuance without overstating the change.

Common error

Avoid using "fluctuate slightly" when the change is actually significant or trending in a clear direction. Overusing "slightly" can diminish the impact of more important fluctuations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fluctuate slightly" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "fluctuate" is the main verb and "slightly" is an adverb modifying the verb to indicate the degree of fluctuation. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and common in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fluctuate slightly" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe minor variations. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it indicates a small degree of change without implying significant instability. To enhance writing, ensure its use aligns with the magnitude of change, avoiding understatement when variations are considerable. Alternatives include phrases like "vary marginally" or "shift subtly". The phrase serves as a practical way to communicate nuanced changes across a wide array of topics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

change minimally

"Change" is a direct synonym for fluctuate, and "minimally" directly replaces "slightly" to denote a small amount of change.

vary marginally

Change the verb to "vary", indicating a similar concept of change, while "marginally" replaces "slightly" to denote a small degree.

shift subtly

"Shift" suggests a change in position or state, and "subtly" conveys a minor degree of change, similar to "slightly".

adjust minutely

"Adjust" indicates a small alteration, and "minutely" emphasizes the small scale of the adjustment.

oscillate gently

"Oscillate" implies a back-and-forth movement or variation, and "gently" suggests a small or mild degree of this movement.

deviate marginally

"Deviate" suggests a departure from a standard or norm, and "marginally" suggests that this departure is small.

waver imperceptibly

"Waver" suggests a slight instability or fluctuation, and "imperceptibly" indicates that the change is barely noticeable.

alter imperceptibly

"Alter" is a synonym for change, and "imperceptibly" indicates that the change is difficult to perceive.

move negligibly

"Move" is used as a general term for change, and "negligibly" denotes that the amount of change is so small that it's almost insignificant.

vary to a small extent

Expresses the same idea using a more explicit and descriptive phrase, with "to a small extent" replacing "slightly".

FAQs

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

You can use "fluctuate slightly" to describe minor variations in data or quantities. For example, "The temperature "fluctuated slightly" throughout the day".

What does "fluctuate slightly" mean?

"Fluctuate slightly" means to change or vary in an irregular way to a small extent.

Which is more appropriate: "change a lot" or "fluctuate slightly"?

The choice depends on the magnitude of the change. Use "change a lot" when the change is substantial, and "fluctuate slightly" when the change is minor.

What are some alternatives to "fluctuate slightly"?

Alternatives include "vary marginally", "shift subtly", or "oscillate gently", depending on the specific context.