just slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small degree or amount of something, often to soften a statement or make it less absolute. Example: "The temperature has just slightly increased since yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Just slightly).

The New York Times - Arts

Laughing, she added, "Just slightly".

The New Yorker

Her hand shook just slightly.

The New Yorker

Or just slightly larger than microscopic.

The New Yorker

Business has improved, but just slightly.

The New York Times

Am I just slightly envious?

The New York Times

"He's just slightly dangerous," Mr. Adelman said.

The New York Times

And not just slightly more likely, either.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's an equivalent experience, just slightly smoother".

The Guardian - Tech

"That will darken the wood just slightly.

The New York Times

Kiros's recipe is just slightly more complex.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just slightly" to soften claims or avoid overstating a change or difference. For instance, instead of saying 'The flavor is different', you could say 'The flavor is "just slightly" different' to be less assertive.

Common error

Avoid using "just slightly" too often in academic or professional contexts, as it can sometimes sound informal or undermine the precision required. Consider alternatives like 'marginally' or 'somewhat' for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The adverbial phrase "just slightly" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating a minimal degree or extent. Ludwig AI shows it often softens statements, as seen in the example, 'Business has improved, but "just slightly".'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

26%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just slightly" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate a small degree or extent. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used, primarily in news media and informal writing. While it can be used in various contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or business settings. The frequency and source quality suggest it's a reliable and understandable way to express minimal changes or differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little bit

A very common and direct way to indicate a small amount.

a tiny bit

Emphasizes the small quantity or degree even more.

marginally

Focuses on the minimal degree of change or difference.

somewhat

Implies a moderate degree, but still less than 'slightly'.

only just

Highlights the minimal extent or degree.

barely

Indicates that something is achieved by the narrowest margin.

scarcely

Similar to 'barely', suggesting something is only just the case.

by a hair

Idiomatic way of saying something nearly didn't happen or is only minimally different.

in a small measure

More formal way to express a slight degree.

to a limited extent

Indicates a certain action or quality is present, but not fully.

FAQs

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

Use "just slightly" to indicate a minor degree or difference. For example, "The updated version is "just slightly better" than the original".

What are some alternatives to "just slightly"?

You can use alternatives such as "a little bit", "somewhat", or "marginally" depending on the context.

Is "just slightly" formal or informal?

The phrase "just slightly" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "marginally" might be preferred in academic writing.

What's the difference between "just slightly" and "slightly"?

Adding "just" to "slightly" emphasizes the small degree or amount even more, making it a more cautious or understated claim. It implies an even smaller change or difference than "slightly" alone.