shrank slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shrank slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small reduction in size or amount, often in a physical or metaphorical context. Example: "After washing the sweater, it shrank slightly, making it a bit tighter than before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

In 2008 the economy shrank slightly.

The Economist

Others in their row shrank slightly away.

The New Yorker

The services trade deficit shrank slightly, to 2.9 billion dollars.

The New York Times

Japan's trade surplus shrank slightly, to $120.4 billion, in the year to November.

The Economist

The Commerce Department estimated that the economy shrank slightly in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times

Its 12-month current-account surplus also shrank slightly, to $118.5 billion.

The Economist

Even as Mr. Madoff's sphere of liberty shrank slightly, new details about his wealth emerged Wednesday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Southern dialect patterns, by contrast, are "shrinking slightly," he said.

The New York Times - Books

Nonetheless, the black-white pay gap has shrunk slightly.

The New York Times

Indeed, boards generally may even be shrinking slightly.

The New York Times

These injuries first enlarged on Day 7, but then shrunk slightly by Days 14 and 28.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes, use "shrank slightly" to indicate a small, often subtle, reduction in size, quantity, or extent. It avoids exaggeration and maintains a factual tone.

Common error

Avoid using "shrank slightly" when the reduction is actually significant. Choose a more appropriate phrase like "shrank considerably" or "reduced substantially" to accurately reflect the magnitude of the change.

Linguistic Context

"Shrank slightly" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a past action where something experienced a minor reduction. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is both correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its application across diverse subjects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

28%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shrank slightly" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe a minor reduction or decrease. According to Ludwig AI, it is deemed correct and appropriate for written English. With a "Very common" frequency, the expression appears often in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia" contexts.

When using this phrase, ensure that the reduction you're describing is indeed minor to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "decreased marginally" and "reduced a bit" offer similar meanings. By understanding its precise meaning and appropriate context, writers can effectively use "shrank slightly" to convey nuanced information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased marginally

Replaces "shrank" with "decreased" and "slightly" with "marginally", both conveying a small reduction.

reduced a bit

Uses simpler vocabulary, replacing "shrank slightly" with more common terms.

contracted marginally

Substitutes "shrank" with "contracted", emphasizing a reduction in size or scope.

diminished slightly

Replaces "shrank" with "diminished", highlighting a reduction in importance or intensity.

lessened somewhat

Uses "lessened" to indicate a decrease, with "somewhat" replacing "slightly".

eased a little

Employs "eased" to suggest a slight alleviation or reduction in pressure or intensity.

moderately declined

Substitutes "shrank slightly" with "moderately declined", indicating a more formal and measured reduction.

minutely decreased

Emphasizes the small scale of the reduction by using "minutely".

saw a slight dip

Uses a more informal and figurative expression to describe a small decrease.

experienced a mild reduction

Replaces "shrank slightly" with a more descriptive and formal phrase.

FAQs

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

Use "shrank slightly" to describe a minor reduction. For example, "The company's profits "shrank slightly" due to increased competition."

What are some alternatives to "shrank slightly"?

You can use alternatives like "decreased marginally", "reduced a bit", or "contracted marginally" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "shrunk slightly" instead of "shrank slightly"?

While "shrunk" is a valid past participle of "shrink", "shrank" is the simple past tense. The phrase ""shrank slightly"" is grammatically correct for describing a past event.

What's the difference between "shrank slightly" and "decreased significantly"?

"Shrank slightly" indicates a small reduction, while "decreased significantly" suggests a much larger and more noticeable reduction. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the magnitude of the change.