is slightly lower

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is slightly lower" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a decrease in a physical or numerical quantity in comparison to the original amount. For example: "The temperature today is slightly lower than yesterday's."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For men, it is slightly lower in the former east.

The Guardian

New York State is slightly lower, at $1,198.

The New York Times

May says she thinks the figure is slightly lower.

The Guardian

Its energy density is slightly lower than today's lithium-ion batteries.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The ratio of 0.73 is slightly lower than EchoStar's first offer, 0.75, in August.

The New York Times

Clearly, the growth rate is slightly lower for the symbiotic system if sufficient nitrogen is available.

Nature

This is slightly lower, but comparable to that of the initial phase of the eruption.

Nature

(The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest number is slightly lower: 3,800).

The New York Times

Still, the Braves' home attendance is slightly lower than last season's.

The New York Times - Sports

Place the stone so the front edge is slightly lower than the back.

The New York Times

The Consumer Price Index for fresh fruits and vegetables is slightly lower than a year ago.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is slightly lower" to precisely indicate a small difference, avoiding exaggeration or understatement. This ensures accurate communication.

Common error

Avoid using "is slightly lower" when the difference is significant. Using it inaccurately can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is slightly lower" functions as a comparative descriptor, indicating that one value is a bit less than another. It expresses a relative difference, suggesting the degree of reduction is small. Ludwig provides multiple examples across various domains where this phrase is used to describe quantities, rates, or values.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

19%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is slightly lower" is a versatile comparative tool used to denote a small decrease or reduction. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse fields like science, news, and general writing. When precise communication is key, "is slightly lower" is an effective way to convey that while a difference exists, it isn't substantial or impactful. Alternatives like "is marginally less" or "is a bit smaller" can be used for variety, but "is slightly lower" remains a clear and reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is marginally less

Emphasizes a minimal difference, highlighting that the reduction is almost negligible.

is a bit smaller

Uses simpler language to express a small decrease in size or amount.

is just below

Indicates that the value is immediately under a certain threshold or level.

is fractionally beneath

Formally suggests that the value is less than another by a small fraction.

is negligibly inferior

Highlights the insignificance of the reduction, suggesting it's barely noticeable.

is subtly reduced

Focuses on the small and perhaps hard-to-detect nature of the reduction.

is decreased a little

A more descriptive way to say that something has been made slightly smaller.

is down a notch

Suggests a decrease in level or intensity, but not by much.

is a touch lower

Indicates a small degree of reduction, with "touch" emphasizing minimal change.

is insignificantly less

Highlights that the reduction is not important or impactful.

FAQs

How can I use "is slightly lower" in a sentence?

Use "is slightly lower" to indicate a minor reduction in a quantity or value compared to something else. For example, "The temperature today "is slightly lower" than yesterday's temperature."

What are some alternatives to "is slightly lower"?

You can use phrases like "is marginally less", "is a bit smaller", or "is just below" to express a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "is slightly lower"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that there's a small, often insignificant, reduction. Use it when precision is needed but the difference isn't substantial.

What's the difference between "is slightly lower" and "is significantly lower"?

"Is slightly lower" implies a minor, almost negligible difference, whereas "is significantly lower" suggests a more substantial and noticeable reduction.