slight damage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight damage" is correct and can be used in written English.
It describes a small amount of harm or injury. Example: The car sustained slight damage when it was hit by a falling branch during the storm.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Bouncing along the highway often causes slight damage that requires repair before the next show.

The New York Times

Stiller caused slight damage to the fine-tuned machine, but Armstrong laughed it off.

The New York Times - Sports

The ground level, which was used for parking, sustained only slight damage.

The New York Times

Five planes suffered slight damage as a result of fragments from the explosion, the minister said.

The Guardian

Third was Tracy, who sustained slight damage to his Honda-Reynard as he tried to avoid Tagliani.

The New York Times - Sports

Two of the nine objects were found with slight damage on the museum grounds, but the other seven were gone.

The New York Times

The center of the community was destroyed, though a few grateful residents walked away with only slight damage, like broken windows.

The New York Times

Thermoluminescent dating is based on the slight damage to all matter, including clays, by the faint nuclear radiation present in the earth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most of them suffered from slight damage until collapse.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Buildings at IO should have only slight damage.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

The city block with less than one-third buildings collapsing was considered as slight damage.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing damage, use "slight damage" to indicate that the harm is minimal and doesn't significantly impair functionality or appearance.

Common error

Avoid using "slight damage" when describing critical infrastructure failures or incidents where the cumulative effect of seemingly minor damages could lead to severe consequences. In such cases, opt for more precise and detailed descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight damage" functions primarily as a noun phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe a situation where something has been harmed to a small extent. The examples provided show its use in various contexts, from physical objects to abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Wiki

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slight damage" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe minimal harm or impairment. Ludwig AI confirms its suitability for various contexts. Analysis of the examples indicates its prevalent use in news, science, and general contexts, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and Wikipedia showcasing its versatility. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the degree of harm and consider alternatives like "minor damage" or "minimal damage" depending on the specific context. Avoid using it in situations where the damage is more significant or has cumulative effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor damage

Replaces "slight" with "minor", suggesting a similar degree of impact.

light damage

Uses "light" as a synonym for "slight", indicating a less severe impact.

minimal damage

Emphasizes the insignificance of the damage.

limited damage

Focuses on the restricted extent of the damage.

small amount of damage

Rephrases the idea using "amount" instead of an adjective.

superficial damage

Indicates that the damage is only on the surface.

modest damage

Suggests a moderate, but not severe, level of damage.

negligible damage

Highlights the insignificance and near absence of any damage.

trivial damage

Conveys the unimportance or insignificance of the damage.

inconsequential damage

Highlights the lack of significant consequences from the damage.

FAQs

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

You can use "slight damage" to describe situations where something has been harmed a little, for example: "The car sustained "slight damage" during the hailstorm", or "The painting suffered "slight damage" during transit".

What are some alternatives to saying "slight damage"?

Alternatives include "minor damage", "minimal damage", or "superficial damage". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of damage you want to convey. You can also use the phrase "light damage".

Is it correct to say "slight damages" instead of "slight damage"?

While "damage" can be both a countable and uncountable noun, "slight damage" is typically used as an uncountable noun. Therefore, "slight damage" is generally preferred over "slight damages" unless referring to multiple, distinct instances of damage.

What's the difference between ""slight damage"" and "moderate damage"?

"Slight damage" indicates a minimal level of harm that does not significantly impact functionality or appearance. "Moderate damage", on the other hand, implies a more substantial level of harm that may require repair or replacement.