little bit quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little bit quickly" is not correct in standard written English.
It is a combination of two modifiers that do not work well together, as "little bit" suggests a small amount while "quickly" implies speed. Example: "Can you do this a little bit quickly?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It all happened a little bit quickly and obviously I feel a little bit hard done by," added Taylor.

BBC

Some of them you kind of go a little bit quickly and something will stop you about a picture.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And we realize, too late, that those little bits quickly add up...and become a big problem.

Huffington Post

Maybe a little bit more quickly.

The Guardian - Sport

I feel at times he's looked to finish the point a little bit too quickly".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's a way to do what we otherwise could do, but do it a little bit more quickly".

The New Yorker

I wonder if we're conditioned to believe in the capabilities of men in this role a little bit more quickly than with women".

Independent

"On a couple of shots out there, we hit a little bit too quickly and got the wind a little bit wrong.

The Guardian - Sport

While the paste of the potatoes is a little bit warm, quickly mix in the eggs so they don't cook.

The New York Times

Not even the strength of Lennie James' performance could prevent the feeling that his downfall had all happened just that little bit too quickly.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Whether it was a little bit too quickly too soon, I'm not sure," said the Essex boy, now managing Ryman Premier Division side Canvey Island.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "little bit quickly" with alternatives like "a bit faster" or "somewhat quickly", which offer a more natural flow and better adhere to standard English usage.

Common error

Be careful when combining "little bit" with adverbs of speed such as "quickly". Although understandable, this combination can sound unnatural. Opt for a single modifier such as "slightly" or "somewhat" followed by an appropriate adverb or adjective to enhance the sentence's overall fluency and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little bit quickly" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig AI indicates this construction is not ideal and it would be improved by using a single modifier. The primary issue lies in the combination of "little bit", which suggests a small quantity, with "quickly", indicating speed. Example from Ludwig: "It all happened a little bit quickly"

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little bit quickly" is an attempt to express a moderate degree of speed in an action. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English due to the somewhat awkward combination of "little bit" and "quickly". It appears infrequently across various sources, primarily in news and media. For clearer and more effective communication, especially in formal contexts, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "a bit faster", "somewhat quickly", or "slightly more rapidly". By opting for these alternatives, writers can ensure their message is conveyed with greater precision and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly faster

Replaces "little bit" with "slightly" for a more concise expression of degree.

a tad more rapidly

Uses "tad" instead of "little bit" and "rapidly" in place of "quickly" for a slightly more formal tone.

somewhat hastily

Employs "somewhat" to indicate degree and "hastily" as a synonym for "quickly", emphasizing the hurried nature.

a bit more expeditiously

Substitutes "little bit" with "bit" and "quickly" with "expeditiously" for a more formal and efficient connotation.

slightly expeditiously

Combines "slightly" for degree and "expeditiously" for speed and efficiency.

somewhat speedier

Replaces the original with adjectives emphasizing the quality of being faster to get the same message across.

a trifle faster

Replaces "little bit" with "trifle" to mean 'to a small extent' and use the adjective to the adverb

a smidge faster

Uses "smidge" instead of "little bit" to imply a very small amount and the adjective in place of the adverb.

a shade more rapidly

Expresses a subtle increase in speed with an elevated vocabulary.

moderately quick

Changes the structure and uses adjectives for both the level of modification and speed, resulting in a slightly less literal match.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "little bit quickly" for better clarity?

You can replace "little bit quickly" with options like "a bit faster", "somewhat quickly", or "slightly faster" to improve grammatical correctness and clarity.

Is "little bit quickly" grammatically correct?

No, "little bit quickly" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more precise and natural-sounding alternatives like "a little faster" or "somewhat quickly".

What's a more formal way to say "little bit quickly"?

For a more formal tone, you can use "somewhat expeditiously" or "slightly more rapidly" instead of "little bit quickly". These alternatives offer a more polished and professional sound.

When is it acceptable to use "little bit quickly"?

While "little bit quickly" might be understood in very informal conversation, it's generally best to avoid it in writing or more formal speech. Opt for alternatives like "a little faster" or "somewhat quickly" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.