slight but marked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight but marked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a change or difference that is small in magnitude but still noticeable or significant. Example: "The report showed a slight but marked improvement in the team's performance over the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her only appearance in the historical record is, famously, in Shakespeare's will, in which he leaves her his "second-best bed"; equally famously, it has been established that this was no slight, but a mark of profound affection – it is the bed in which they would have spent their married life.

The Guardian

Among her teammates, slight shrugs marked mistakes.

The New York Times - Sports

The discomfort feedback of "Critical" is marked as ��, and "Slight" is marked as ○.

3D Printing in Medicine

The extent of responses is classified as grade 0, 1, 2, and 3, which represents no response, slight response, marked response, and complete response (CR), respectively.

BMC Cancer

-wrap-foot> Investigated brain fiber tract, rating of axonal ataxin-3 pathology sorted by increasing severity (none: 0; slight: 1 5; marked: 6 10; severe: 11+) indicated by different shades of gray (ND not determined) Except for the external and extreme capsules and the hippocampal alveus, all of the evaluated brain fiber tracts were at least mildly affected by these axonal inclusions (Table  3).

Acta Neuropathologica

aHistological findings criteria: 0, non remarkable; 1+, very slight; 2+, slight, 3+, moderate; 4+, marked.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

That's a slight drop, but it marks five straight years of decline, including a drop of nearly three percent per year from 2007 through 2010.

Huffington Post

The collection marks a slight but unmistakable shift for Burnside, whose work in the past has been distinguished by its devotion to the transcendental.

The Guardian - Books

The presence of two modes separated by a slight depression that marks the overlap region can be observed in practically all jump size distributions of the raw data.

Nature

The cap margin is even, and has slight grooves that mark the position of the gills underneath.

Wikipedia

The scores were: 0 = normal and 1 4 for slight (1), moderate (2), marked (3) or severely (4) modified demeanor or impaired mobility.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slight but marked", ensure that the context clearly establishes both the small degree of change and its relative importance. For example, use it to describe improvements in performance or subtle shifts in opinion where the magnitude might be small but the implications are noteworthy.

Common error

Avoid using "slight but marked" when the change is actually substantial or dramatic. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing a subtle yet undeniable difference, not exaggerating a major transformation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight but marked" functions as an adjectival modifier, used to describe a noun by indicating a characteristic that is both small in degree and noticeable in effect. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slight but marked" is used to describe a change or difference that is small in magnitude but still noticeable or significant. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and is best used when you want to express that an alteration, though not drastic, is still important and discernible. It is often found in neutral to professional contexts such as news, science, and business. Alternatives include "subtle yet noticeable" and "minor but significant".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subtle yet noticeable

Emphasizes the subtlety of the change while still being observable.

minor but significant

Highlights the small scale of the change but its importance.

small but distinct

Focuses on the limited size of the change and its clear presence.

едва заметный, но ощутимый (Russian translation)

Russian translation of the original query.

marginal but considerable

Indicates that the change is on the edge but still worth taking into account.

imperceptible yet meaningful

Emphasizes that change is barely perceived but still possesses meaning.

gradual but substantial

Highlights that change is steady, and still substantial at the end.

inconspicuous but consequential

The change is subtle and not obvious, but has consequences.

minimal yet noteworthy

Highlights that change is negligible, but still important and worthy of attention.

delicate but impactful

Emphasizes that even a delicate change might bring impact.

FAQs

How can I use "slight but marked" in a sentence?

You can use "slight but marked" to describe changes or differences that are small in magnitude but still noticeable or significant. For example: "The report showed a "slight but marked" improvement in the team's performance."

What's a good alternative to "slight but marked"?

Alternatives include "subtle yet noticeable", "minor but significant", or "small but distinct" depending on the specific context.

Is it okay to use "slight but marked" in formal writing?

Yes, "slight but marked" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to convey the idea of a small but important change. Its usage is found in news articles, science publications and formal documents.

Which is correct: "slight but marked" or "slightly but marked"?

"Slight but marked" is correct. The use of the adjective "slight" correctly modifies the noun that is implied in this construction. "Slightly but marked" would be grammatically incorrect in this context.