refined slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refined slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a minor improvement or adjustment made to something, such as a process, idea, or product. Example: "The recipe was refined slightly to enhance the flavor without altering the original concept."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"This is mythology, but it's not mythology that's refined slightly over time.

The New York Times

The 665 mice in 66 studies (Table  2) used here to inform the simulation parameters are mostly the same as those 585 mice described in our analysis of variability [14], refined slightly by adding in data from newly available cohorts of A375, HCT116, and MEL-537 mice and removing a small number of animals for which post-treatment scans were unavailable (H596, A2058).

EJNMMI Research

And maybe refined slightly for an international palette.

Huffington Post

Based on student interviews, the wordings of the items were refined slightly, after which the questionnaire was distributed to the cohort of medical students taking a clinical clerkship preparatory course at four teaching hospitals.

BMC Medical Education

The questionnaire for ICCP-2010 was refined slightly through discussion with an Advisory Group, consisting of professionals from the pharmaceutical industry, the Equality Authority in Ireland, and the primary care sector.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The plant will refine slightly radioactive ore from the Mount Weld mine deep in the Australian desert, 2,500 miles away.

The New York Times

(The chocolate made in Salinas, less refined and slightly acidic, is sold in some health food stores as Kallari's Sacha Bar).

The New York Times - Food

Saudi Arabia, the world's leading crude oil producer, refines only slightly more petroleum than South Korea, which, like Japan, has to import nearly all of its crude oil and natural gas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An initial step has been to refine and slightly expand the electricity questions in the SARA to capture a broader spectrum of the available primary and secondary electricity sources and to better measure power reliability and capacity.

Global health, science and practice

Later, Mr. Ruttgers refined his message slightly, urging, "More education instead of more immigration".

The New York Times

But Artest's powerful aggression has been channeled and slightly refined.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refined slightly" when you want to emphasize a minor adjustment or improvement that doesn't fundamentally change the original concept or design.

Common error

Avoid using "refined slightly" when the changes made are actually significant or substantial. This phrase is best suited for minor tweaks, not major overhauls.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refined slightly" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the verb it accompanies. It indicates the extent or degree to which something has been refined, suggesting a minor adjustment or improvement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing examples where the phrase modifies actions related to design, recipes, and questionnaires.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refined slightly" is a concise way to indicate that something has undergone a minor improvement or adjustment. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and found in various contexts, from scientific research to news articles. While its usage is relatively rare, alternatives like "adjusted marginally" or "tweaked subtly" can offer similar nuance. Remember to use "refined slightly" only when the changes are indeed minor, and to consider your audience to ensure its appropriateness. It's suitable for neutral or formal writing, providing a clear and subtle way to convey that something has been improved without drastic changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adjusted marginally

Indicates a small adjustment, similar to a slight refinement.

tweaked subtly

Implies a delicate adjustment, much like a slight refinement.

modified gently

Suggests a mild modification, comparable to a slight refinement.

improved incrementally

Highlights the gradual improvement aspect of a slight refinement.

polished gently

Conveys a sense of careful refinement, akin to a slight refinement.

honed subtly

Emphasizes the precision of a slight refinement.

fine-tuned lightly

Focuses on the fine adjustments made in a slight refinement.

corrected minimally

Indicates that only small corrections were made, similar to a slight refinement.

perfected incrementally

Suggests a gradual approach to perfection, similar to a slight refinement.

enhanced a bit

Implies a small enhancement, comparable to a slight refinement.

FAQs

How can I use "refined slightly" in a sentence?

You can use "refined slightly" to indicate a minor adjustment or improvement. For example, "The recipe was "refined slightly" to enhance the flavor." or "The design was "refined slightly" based on user feedback."

What are some alternatives to "refined slightly"?

Some alternatives include "adjusted marginally", "tweaked subtly", or "modified gently", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "refined slightly" in formal writing?

Yes, "refined slightly" is appropriate for formal writing. It clearly and concisely conveys the idea of a minor adjustment. However, consider whether a more precise term might be even more suitable depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "refined slightly" and "completely overhauled"?

"Refined slightly" indicates a minor adjustment or improvement, while "completely overhauled" implies a major transformation or redesign. The former suggests subtle changes, whereas the latter suggests a fundamental change.