reduction slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduction slightly" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks proper grammatical structure, as "slightly" typically modifies an adjective or adverb rather than a noun like "reduction." Example: "The reduction in costs was slightly more than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Atomic force microscopy measurements revealed that the electrochemical reduction slightly increased the surface roughness of the composite films.

Electrochimica Acta

"With comparable color reproduction to the Panasonic 850, improved noise reduction, slightly better real world energy consumption and the best black level of any plasma tested, the Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD lands at top of the flat panel universe.

TechCrunch

For both the systems mentioned, the dynamic IFT decreases with pressure; however, the rate of reduction slightly decreases at higher pressure conditions.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

These improvements are obtained by an average clutter power reduction slightly above  dB and an average target power enhancement above  dB.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

As one of the main objectives of this case study was to evaluate the behavior of BETA with a complete real world specification, this reduction slightly hindered our goal.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

The enzyme has similar kcat for 3PG oxidation and OAA or AKG reduction, with OAA reduction slightly faster than 3PG oxidation.

ACS Chemical Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

On the other hand, export and production rebates ease the decrease in exports to some degree, making output reductions slightly smaller than in NBA.

Journal of Economic Structures

In the D38E background, mutation of residues 42 and 44 led to 2 3-fold rate reductions, slightly smaller than in the WT background, suggesting only a small role of these residues in general base positioning.

Biochemistry

Debt reduction is slightly better than expected and refinancing negotiations have begun.

The Guardian

But Niger is still judged "off-track" to meet its target, because continuing at the current rate will still result in a reduction of slightly below two-thirds.

The Economist

As the curves highlight, the reduction is slightly higher when RP is equal to 80.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a small decrease, use the more grammatically correct phrase "slight reduction" or "small decrease" instead of "reduction slightly."

Common error

Avoid placing "slightly" after the noun "reduction". Instead, use it before an adjective (e.g., "slightly smaller") or use "slight" as the adjective modifying "reduction" directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduction slightly" is grammatically incorrect as it misplaces the adverb "slightly". Adverbs typically modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns like "reduction". Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting more appropriate phrasing.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reduction slightly" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, "slightly" should modify an adjective or verb, not the noun "reduction". A more appropriate and grammatically sound alternative is to use "slight reduction" or "small reduction". While the intended meaning might be understood, adhering to correct grammar enhances clarity and credibility in both formal and informal communication. Due to its incorrect structure, the phrase is rarely found in authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight decrease

Replaces "reduction" with the more general term "decrease" and uses "slight" as a direct adjective.

marginal reduction

Uses "marginal" to emphasize the small or barely significant nature of the reduction.

small reduction

A straightforward substitution using "small" to indicate the size of the reduction.

minor reduction

Employs "minor" to suggest the reduction is not substantial or of great consequence.

negligible reduction

Indicates the reduction is so small it's practically insignificant.

tiny reduction

Uses "tiny" for a more informal way to describe a very small reduction.

a bit of reduction

An idiomatic way to express a small amount of reduction.

modest reduction

Suggests the reduction is limited and not excessive.

limited reduction

Emphasizes that the reduction is constrained or not widespread.

slight curtailment

Replaces "reduction" with "curtailment" implying a slight restriction or limitation.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound way to say "reduction slightly"?

Instead of saying "reduction slightly", you can use "slight reduction" or "small reduction". The word "slightly" should typically modify an adjective or verb, not a noun.

Is it ever correct to place 'slightly' after a noun like 'reduction'?

While unconventional, placing "slightly" after a noun might occur in informal speech. However, in formal writing, it's preferable to use "slight reduction" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What other adjectives can I use to describe a 'reduction'?

Besides "slight" and "small", you can also use adjectives like "minor", "marginal", or "modest" depending on the context and the degree of the reduction.

Can you give an example of how to correctly use 'slightly' in a sentence about reductions?

Instead of "the reduction was slightly", try "the reduction was "slightly smaller" than expected" or "the reduction was "slightly less than" last year".