slight development

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight development" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor or small change or progress in a particular situation or context. Example: "The project has seen a slight development in its timeline, allowing us to move forward more efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

From a longitudinal perspective, the general mathematical competencies did not improve overall, despite the different levels of support provided in each of the occupational areas, though slight development (d = .14) was observed among those who opted for programmes with economic emphasis.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Slight development took place as the system moved over the Yucatán Peninsula; however, by the time it entered the Bay of Campeche on August 21, little convection was associaed with the system.

Wikipedia

However, she has a slight development delay.

BMC Pediatrics

They have a slight development of hoods towards branch ends.

BMC Ecology

Furthermore, ovary activation was scored using a 5-point scale [ 62]: 0 = undeveloped (resting ovarioles); 1 = oogenesis starting (presence of cells swelling at top of ovariole and starting to descend); 2 = slight development (eggs distinguishable from trophocytes); 3 = moderate development (egg volume exceeds that of the follicle); 4 = highly developed (eggs are fully elongated).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Though the Americans and British insist that they do not want to end up slighting development spending, their clear priority in Chicago is to ensure there is enough money for the security forces to avoid a repeat of what happened in 1991 when the Soviet Union withdrew financial support for the military under Najibullah, the Communist ruler they had left in Kabul after they withdrew in 1989.

The New York Times

Its slight industrial development includes a tannery.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Prosecutors argued he was fit to stand trial as a Chinese psychiatrist found he had only "slight mental development delay", Fairfax reported.

The Guardian

For the period 2001 to 2030, there even seems to appear a slight negative development, with a t/n ratio of −0.63 and a p=0.08 for MK that is, however, not recognized as being significant.

Environmental Sciences Europe

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

Teeth with slight Carabelli development span a range of values overlapping the ranges of the other two groups (Figure 2).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slight development" when you want to downplay the magnitude of a change or progress, avoiding exaggeration. It's useful in contexts where expectations are low or the actual progress is incremental.

Common error

Avoid using "slight development" when the advancement is actually significant or substantial. This can mislead your audience or undermine the importance of the progress made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight development" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence to denote a minor or small advancement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slight development" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a minor or incremental advancement. Ludwig AI analysis shows that while not overly common, it appears across diverse contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedic publications. The phrase is suitable for formal and informal writing where a downplayed description of change is appropriate. Related phrases include "minor progress" and "small improvement". When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure that the development is genuinely minor to avoid misrepresenting the extent of progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor progress

Focuses on the advancement aspect, emphasizing the small degree of progress.

small improvement

Highlights the positive change, indicating it is not substantial.

modest advancement

Emphasizes the limited scale of the forward movement.

limited growth

Stresses the constrained nature of the expansion or increase.

marginal gain

Focuses on the small benefit or advantage achieved.

subtle evolution

Highlights the gradual and understated nature of the change.

incipient development

Indicates that the development is just beginning or in its early stages.

gradual unfolding

Emphasizes the slow and progressive revealing or development.

restricted evolution

Emphasizes the constrained nature of the evolutionary change.

initial stages of growth

Focuses on the early phase of expansion, suggesting more is to come.

FAQs

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

You can use "slight development" to describe a minor improvement or change. For example: "There has been a slight development in the patient's condition" or "The project experienced a slight development in its initial phase".

What are some alternatives to "slight development"?

You can use alternatives like "minor progress", "small improvement", or "modest advancement" depending on the context.

Is "slight development" formal or informal?

"Slight development" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in scientific and news publications, making it generally neutral in tone.

What's the difference between "slight development" and "significant development"?

"Slight development" indicates a small or minor change, while "significant development" implies a noteworthy or substantial change. The choice depends on the actual magnitude of the progress.