made slight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made slight" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of making something smaller or less significant, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "The changes made slight improvements to the overall design."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Utilities made slight gains.

The New York Times

However, Hispanics other than Mexicans and Puerto Ricans made slight gains in law school enrollment.

The New York Times

He made slight inroads among Hispanic voters, a solid part of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's base.

The New York Times

Later, he made slight reference to the television industry in "Gotta Serve Somebody," recorded in 1979.

The New Yorker

For its part, Yale made slight improvements in its offers on wages, pensions and job security.

The New York Times

He's only made slight modifications but they make a big difference, and we've seen really significant progress".

The Guardian - Sport

Voices in the rooms made slight vibrations in the windows, and Nick's microphones could translate those back into sound that he could record.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Metcalfe's opponents made slights on the quality of his stone work and his views on the Old Court-New Court controversy.

Wikipedia

"I make slight advances, but they're very, very slight," he said.

The New Yorker

Many questions focussed on Wild's tendency to make slight alterations to the pieces he plays.

The New Yorker

Sellers regularly pull sluggish listings off the market, make slight adjustments, and then resubmit them.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing small adjustments or changes, prefer the phrase "made minor" or "made small" as they are more grammatically sound and widely accepted in standard English.

Common error

While seemingly straightforward, "made slight" can sound awkward. Instead of relying on this phrase, consider using stronger verbs that inherently convey the idea of a small adjustment, such as "tweaked", "refined", or "adjusted".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made slight" functions as a verb phrase indicating that an action has resulted in a small or minor change. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is not considered correct in standard written English. While Ludwig provides examples of its use, it suggests opting for alternatives like "made minor" or "made small".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "made slight" is frequently used, especially in news and scientific contexts, Ludwig AI suggests it is not grammatically correct. It serves to indicate a small or minor change. For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using alternatives such as "made minor" or "made small". The prevalence of "made slight" in various sources underscores its common usage, but opting for grammatically sound alternatives enhances the precision and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made minor

Replaces "slight" with "minor", indicating a small degree of change or impact.

made small

Uses "small" instead of "slight", suggesting a small magnitude.

made subtle

Employs "subtle" to denote changes that are delicate or understated.

effected slight

Replaces "made" with "effected", which means to cause something to happen, implying that something has been achieved with a slight impact.

created slight

Substitutes "made" with "created", emphasizing the generation of a small change or impact.

introduced slight

Replaces "made" with "introduced", indicating the bringing of something new with a small impact.

had slight

Changes "made" to "had", focusing on possessing a small degree of something.

showed slight

Replaces "made" with "showed", indicating the display of a small change.

exhibited slight

Uses "exhibited" instead of "made", to denote displaying something modestly.

demonstrated slight

Replaces "made" with "demonstrated" to indicate showing something with a small impact.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "made slight"?

You can use alternatives like "made minor", "made small", or "made subtle" depending on the context.

Is "made slight" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, especially in news and scientific contexts, "made slight" is considered grammatically questionable. It's safer to use alternatives like "made minor" or "made small".

How to use "made minor" instead of "made slight" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "The company made slight adjustments to its policy", try "The company made minor adjustments to its policy". This maintains the intended meaning while using a more grammatically sound phrase.

What's the difference between "made slight" and "made small"?

"Made small" is generally preferred over "made slight" due to its clearer grammatical structure. Both phrases indicate a small adjustment, but "made small" is more widely accepted and understood.