slight departure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight departure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor change or deviation from a standard, plan, or expectation. Example: "The report indicates a slight departure from the original budget projections, which may require adjustments in our spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The vivid Ferretti dress is a slight departure.

The New York Times - Style

We show that this slight departure from rationality has important implications for policy design.

European Economic Review

It is shown that a slight departure from vertical alignment enhances dipsersion markedly.

Chemical Engineering Science

In "Rend and Sew," however, she is making a slight departure.

The New York Times - Arts

We stayed at the Manor House, which is widely recommended and seemed to promise a slight departure from the Litchfield County norm.

The New York Times - Travel

The object is to kill the Isis terrorists," he said, only a slight departure from his campaign promise to bomb them "into oblivion".

The Guardian

His new "Force of Circumstance" is a slight departure — denser, the tone more coldly formal, the vocabulary more sinuous and hyper-articulate.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

A known problem with this approach is that even slight departures from the supervisor's demonstrations can compound over the policy's roll-out resulting in errors; this concept of drift and resulting error is commonly referred to as covariate shift On-policy techniques reduce covariate shift by iteratively collecting corrective actions for the current robot policy.

University of California, Berkeley

In ancestral environments, visual cues were a fairly reliable means of ascertaining affiliation: slight departures from the physical appearance of the local population (e.g., in dress, hair style, or weaponry) indicated that a person was "not from around here" and thus "not a member of my group".

Huffington Post

In both cases the Shapiro-Wilk test indicated slight departures from normality (p = 0.048 and 0.044 respectively).

Plosone

Therefore, it is reasonable to combine all the data for further distance-based analysis despite the existence of slight departures from HWE in our data.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slight departure", ensure the context clearly establishes the original norm or expectation so the reader understands what the deviation is from.

Common error

Avoid using "slight departure" when the change is actually substantial. This phrase downplays the magnitude of the alteration and can mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight departure" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes a minor deviation or alteration from a norm, standard, or expectation, as evidenced by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

29%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slight departure" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe minor deviations or alterations. As indicated by Ludwig, it is appropriate for a variety of contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific articles. To ensure clarity, always specify the original norm when using this phrase. While highly versatile, be mindful not to use it when the change is substantial, as that can be misleading. Consider alternatives such as "minor deviation" or "small divergence" for nuances. Being aware of these recommendations will ensure the effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor deviation

Emphasizes the small degree of difference or change.

slight variation

Implies a mild variation from what is intended

small divergence

Highlights the act of moving away in different directions, but to a small extent.

modest alteration

Focuses on the change itself, portraying it as limited in scope.

subtle shift

Suggests a change that is delicate and not immediately obvious.

marginal difference

Stresses that the difference is at the edge or border of significance.

small adjustment

Focuses on the act of making things fit or match with each other.

minimal variation

Indicates the extent of change is the least possible.

tiny modification

Implies something is changed or adapted, but remaining generally the same.

gentle curve

Implies a mild deviation from what is intended

FAQs

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

You can use "slight departure" to indicate a minor deviation from a plan, expectation, or standard. For example, "The new design is a "slight departure" from the original model".

What are some alternatives to "slight departure"?

Alternatives include "minor deviation", "small divergence", or "modest alteration", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "slight departure" formal or informal?

"Slight departure" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "slight departure" and "major departure"?

A ""slight departure"" indicates a small or insignificant change, while a "major departure" signifies a significant and substantial change or deviation.