slight character

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight character" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a character that has a minor or subtle presence or influence in a narrative or context. Example: "The novel features a slight character who plays a pivotal role in the protagonist's development, despite their limited dialogue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Carolyn Carlson, the Paris-based American modern dance choreographer, offers here one of her distilled if slight character studies.

The New York Times - Arts

Today the two plays, running through Aug. 29 at 311 West 43rd Street, seem like lovely but slight character studies.

The New York Times

"It was the first time I've ever flown," says Mike Balls, a slight character who looks barely beyond adolescence but is nonetheless described in the band's biography as "the hardest man in soccer violence".

The Guardian - Music

With Inception there is very little stretching except for the action sequences, which really don't suit him well in a movie where there's such slight character development or something to sustain our interest.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

After a skillfully rendered hurricane and a trip into the heart of darkness in a swamp, the Kid is delivered by the Professor's thorny games of deceit and manipulation into an association with the novel's slightest character: a magazine writer who, as Banks describes him, looks a little like both Ernest Hemingway and Banks himself.

The New York Times - Books

I loved playing Andy Osnard, I wasn't trying to slight the character of Bond, or the work that I'd done, or the franchise in any way, shape or fashion.

The Guardian - Film

The saturation curve for the GTA method might indicate a slight biphasic character as compared with the strictly monophasic behavior with the peptide method.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Results show that the ILs with withdrawing electron substituents have more polarized cations (a more localized positive charge) acquiring a slight ionic character in comparison to the ILs with donating substituents.

Electrochimica Acta

However, the slope replot for d-serine displays a slight nonlinear character, and the plot of velocity versus inhibitor concentration shows distinct plateauing with retention of activity at higher inhibitor concentrations, indicating only partial inhibition.

Biochemistry

(Consider, say, Margaret Watson, whose daughter Diane was stabbed to death at her school, in Scotland, in 1991, and whose fifteen-year-old son Alan killed himself a year and a half later; in his hand, when he was found dead, were newspaper articles that the family believed slighted the character of his late sister).

The New Yorker

Nat's vengeance, for the specifics of his own afflictions, rather than for those of slavery over all, turns him into a slighter, simpler character, one whose motives and temperament differ drastically from the symbolic weight that Parker puts on him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character with a minimal presence, use "slight character" to accurately convey their limited influence without necessarily implying negativity. It's a neutral descriptor that focuses on the scope of the character's role.

Common error

Avoid using "slight character" if the character, despite appearing briefly, significantly impacts the plot. A seemingly minor character can still have major consequences, rendering the descriptor inaccurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight character" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where 'slight' modifies the noun 'character'. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It describes a character with a minimal or understated presence in a narrative.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slight character" is a grammatically sound and semantically neutral term used to describe a character with a limited presence or influence in a story or narrative. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. While its occurrence is not overly frequent, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific sources. Alternatives include phrases like "minor character" or "subtle character". When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the character's limited impact to avoid misinterpretation. "Slight character" serves as an effective way to convey the scope of a character's role without implying any inherent value judgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor character

Replaces 'slight' with 'minor', emphasizing the character's lack of importance.

subtle character

Replaces 'slight' with 'subtle', focusing on the character's nuanced or understated nature.

secondary character

Indicates the character's supporting role in relation to the main characters.

insignificant character

Highlights the character's lack of impact or consequence within the story.

tertiary character

Highlights an even lower importance compared to "secondary character".

peripheral character

Emphasizes the character's position on the edge of the main narrative.

small role

Focuses on the character's limited contribution to the plot.

brief appearance

Highlights the limited time the character spends in the narrative.

passing figure

Emphasizes the fleeting nature of the character's presence.

underdeveloped character

Describes a character that lacks depth or backstory.

FAQs

How can I use "slight character" in a sentence?

You can use "slight character" to describe a character whose role or impact in a story is minimal. For example, "Although she was a "slight character", her actions indirectly influenced the protagonist's journey."

What are some alternatives to "slight character"?

Alternatives include "minor character", "subtle character", or "peripheral character". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "slight character" a positive or negative description?

"Slight character" is generally neutral. It simply indicates the degree of influence or presence a character has within a narrative. It doesn't inherently imply praise or criticism.

Can a "slight character" still be important to a story?

Yes, a seemingly "slight character" can be crucial to the plot or thematic development. Their actions or interactions might have significant repercussions, despite their limited screen time or narrative focus.