little at the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little at the same time" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of doing something to a small extent while also doing something else simultaneously, but it lacks clarity. Example: "I felt a little at the same time overwhelmed and excited about the new project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Swart c Parry b Broad 13 (Netherlands 34-1) Swart goes to swipe a fuller one down the ground, and the ball sticks a little at the same time as he checks the shot.

The Guardian - Sport

Years of solitude and introspection have turned Chiyo into quite the philosopher (or at least philosophy major), seemingly in awe of so much and so little at the same time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The general lack of celebrity taint is, to some traditionalists, one of the sport's great appeals, and so when Subban suggests, as he did not long ago, that the N.H.L. expand farther into the Sun Belt by adding a team in Houston — "because that's where Beyoncé's from" — fans (like me) laugh and cringe a little at the same time.

The New Yorker

The Thick of It: "You don't need to shit yourself about it, because we're not buying it, all right - it's funded by taxes!" Cable: "I have great sympathy with the chancellor, who is being attacked for borrowing too much and borrowing too little at the same time … ".

The Guardian

The general lack of celebrity taint is, to some traditionalists, one of the sport's great appeals, and so when Subban suggests, as he did not long ago, that the N.H.L. expand farther into the Sun Belt by adding a team in Houston—"because that's where Beyoncé's from"—fans (like me) laugh and cringe a little at the same time.

The New Yorker

We'll be chatting with TheWaveVR CEO Adam Arrigo, SVRF CEO Sophia Dominguez and Mindshow CEO Gil Baron about the social possibilities of a world where you can share so much and so little at the same time.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

You're a little excited but a little nervous at the same time.

The Guardian

The collection, with its vintage print dresses and soft-shouldered tweed jackets, looked a little lady, and a little accessible at the same time.

The New York Times

Gochujang, the fermented Korean red pepper paste that is a little sweet and a little dank at the same time, is what you should really be smearing all over your pristine cuts of salmon, tuna, and hamachi.

Vice

What they said, normally little people aren't used to seeing so many other little people at the same time -- so it was kind of a new experience for them.

Huffington Post

We took the bridge for a little stunt, the four of us did a ride on Stefan's little BMX at the same time.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing simultaneous but differing intensities of actions, consider replacing "little at the same time" with clearer alternatives like "somewhat simultaneously" or breaking the sentence into two separate clauses for better readability.

Common error

Avoid using "little at the same time" when simpler words or phrases can convey your intended meaning more directly. Overcomplicating descriptions can confuse readers. Choose clarity over complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little at the same time" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to describe the degree or manner in which something occurs simultaneously. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the expression is not considered grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "little at the same time" aims to express simultaneous actions or feelings with varying degrees of intensity, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI confirms, clearer alternatives like "somewhat simultaneously" or restructured sentences are recommended for improved clarity. The phrase appears mainly in news and media sources, suggesting an informal register. Therefore, avoid using "little at the same time" in formal or academic writing, opting instead for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to prevent confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat simultaneously

Substitutes "little" with "somewhat" and "at the same time" with "simultaneously" to express actions happening together.

slightly concurrently

Replaces "little" with "slightly" and "at the same time" with "concurrently" to indicate simultaneity.

slightly in parallel

Replaces "at the same time" with "in parallel" to convey actions happening alongside each other.

a touch simultaneously

Uses "a touch" instead of "little" to mean a small amount, combined with "simultaneously".

a shade concurrently

Employs "a shade" for a slight degree and "concurrently" for happening at the same time.

to a small extent simultaneously

More formally expresses doing something only a bit while also doing something at the same time.

to a slight degree concurrently

Uses "to a slight degree" to indicate a small amount and "concurrently" for simultaneity.

in a somewhat synchronous manner

Indicates actions aligning in time, using the adverbs "somewhat" and "synchronous".

with a dash of simultaneity

Expresses the concept of doing something while also doing something else simultaneously, but to a small degree.

a smidgen concurrently

Using "smidgen" to show that something occurs in a really small measure.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "little at the same time" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "slightly concurrently" or "somewhat simultaneously" to convey simultaneous actions or feelings more clearly.

Is "little at the same time" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "little at the same time" is not considered standard English. It may be better to use grammatically correct alternatives.

What is a more formal way to say "little at the same time"?

A more formal alternative could be "to a small extent simultaneously". However, ensure this phrasing fits the context and maintains clarity.

When is it acceptable to use "little at the same time"?

While not grammatically correct, it may be acceptable in informal contexts where clarity is less critical. However, in professional or academic writing, it's advisable to use clearer and more standard alternatives.