less than slight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than slight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not just a small amount, but rather a bit more significant than that. Example: "The evidence presented was less than slight, indicating a more serious issue at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But, he says, the chances of finding them are less than slight.

The New York Times - Style

The chances are less than slight of Quebec signing on to a pan-Canadian agency, so long as a separatist government remains in office.The provinces are also loth to sacrifice a tidy source of revenue.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Low cardiovascular risk was considered as less than 5%, slight risk as 5-95-9%oderase risk as 10-19%, high risk as 20-39% and very high risk as over 39%.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

The following ranges were considered for interpretation of the kappa coefficient: poor agreement = less than 0.00, slight agreement = 0.00 0.20, fair agreement = 0.21 040, moderate agreement = 0.41 0.60, substantial agreement = 0.61 0.80, and almost perfect agreement = 0.80 1.00.

BioMed Research International

You'll have to push a lot at first, but with some practice, you'll be able to turn easily with less than a slight movement of the foot.

WikiHow

The effect, never less than picturesque, is slight.

The New York Times

Thus, the equilibrium lacks one of the main characteristics emphasized by Lewis: a preference for general conformity over slight-less-than-general conformity.

SEP

It's more than slight, less than 50/50, but certainly a possibility.

Forbes

There is a slight risk of less-than-ideal folks wandering around the neighborhood possibly looking for an empty home to rob.

WikiHow

Water with Fe concentration of less than 0.3 mg/L have slight effects on taste and other marginal aesthetic effects such as slight staining of white clothes if used for laundry purposes.

Chemistry Central Journal

Nascar has reported a small horsepower improvement — less than 1 percent — and a slight reduction in fuel economy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less than slight" to downplay the significance of a factor or event, especially when you want to acknowledge its existence without exaggerating its impact. This can be useful in scientific reports or objective analyses where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "less than slight" when the context already implies minimal importance. For example, saying "the change was less than slight, almost non-existent" is redundant. Choose one expression for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than slight" primarily functions as a modifier, typically used to qualify a noun or a noun phrase. It indicates that something is present to a minimal degree, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, which validates its grammatical correctness. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing variations or improvements.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than slight" is a grammatically sound and somewhat formal way to express that something has a minimal impact or effect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's best used when precision is needed, particularly in analytical contexts such as scientific reports or news articles. While not a particularly frequent expression, it serves a valuable purpose in accurately conveying small quantities or minor changes. Alternatives include "barely noticeable" or "hardly significant", but "less than slight" provides a specific nuance that can be useful in objective assessments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely noticeable

Focuses on the minimal visibility or perceptibility of something.

hardly significant

Emphasizes the lack of importance or consequence.

minimally important

Directly states the low level of importance.

virtually negligible

Highlights the near-zero impact or effect.

scarcely perceptible

Focuses on the difficulty in detecting or sensing something.

slightly greater than nothing

Expresses a value or impact only marginally above zero.

a touch above insignificant

Indicates that something is just barely more important than being insignificant.

little more than trivial

Suggests something is only marginally more important than something inconsequential.

somewhat inconsequential

Describes something as lacking importance or relevance.

hardly any

Indicates that there is a very small amount of something.

FAQs

How can I use "less than slight" in a sentence?

The phrase "less than slight" indicates something is only marginally significant. For example: "The improvement in sales was "less than slight", barely impacting the overall revenue."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "less than slight"?

You can use alternatives like "barely noticeable", "hardly significant", or "virtually negligible" to convey a similar meaning. The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to express.

Is it ever appropriate to use "less than slight" in formal writing?

Yes, "less than slight" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to precisely describe a minimal impact or difference. It adds a level of accuracy that might be missing with more general terms.

What's the difference between "less than slight" and "insignificant"?

"Insignificant" implies a complete lack of importance, while ""less than slight"" suggests there is a small amount of effect, even if it's barely perceptible. Use "insignificant" when something has truly no impact, and "less than slight" when there's a minimal, almost negligible effect.