slight improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

"slight improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a small or marginal improvement, and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, "We saw a slight improvement in our profits last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There has been a slight improvement.

The New York Times - Sports

There were periods of slight improvement.

The New York Times - Sports

"Castle" did show slight improvement over its debut last week.

The New York Times - Arts

That was a slight improvement on the month of February.

The Guardian

That's only a slight improvement on the picture in 2008.

The Guardian

HENDRIK HERTZBERG: But my guess is: slight improvement.

The New Yorker

The compromise is a slight improvement for the Democrats, though they still have Republican-leaning districts.

The New York Times

That's a slight improvement to build on September's rise in employment.

The Guardian - Business

The week commencing 29th October then saw a recovery, a slight improvement for the programme.

The Guardian

That brought a slight improvement in fortunes – a 2-0 defeatoto Nigeria.

The Guardian - Sport

The report showed a slight improvement in overall activity in March.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slight improvement", be specific about what is improving. Providing context makes the statement more meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "slight improvement" when the change is actually significant. Overstating a small improvement can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight improvement" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "slight" modifies the noun "improvement". It typically describes a minor positive change or advancement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slight improvement" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a minor positive change. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in science and business settings. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context to specify what exactly is improving. Related phrases include "marginal gain" and "modest progress", offering similar shades of meaning. Be mindful not to exaggerate the impact when using this phrase, as it can undermine your credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor advancement

Emphasizes the forward movement, while acknowledging its small scale.

modest progress

Highlights the advancement made, but suggests it's limited in scope or impact.

small step forward

Illustrates a positive change, but only a small one.

limited advancement

Highlights the limited nature of the progress, rather than the progress itself.

marginal gain

Focuses on the smallness of the increase, emphasizing the effort required to achieve it.

insignificant progress

Emphasizes that the progress that was done did not make a significant impact.

gradual betterment

Implies that the improvement happened slowly, with a sense of positivity.

a touch better

An informal way to describe something as slightly better.

a shade better

An informal way to describe something as marginally better.

ticking up slightly

Refers to a marginal increase with the idea that the changes will continue in the future.

FAQs

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

You can use "slight improvement" to describe a small positive change, as in "There has been a "slight improvement" in his condition" or "The company reported a "slight improvement" in sales this quarter".

What are some synonyms for "slight improvement"?

Alternatives to "slight improvement" include "marginal gain", "modest progress", or "minor advancement", all of which indicate a small positive change.

Is it appropriate to use "slight improvement" in formal writing?

Yes, "slight improvement" is appropriate for formal writing, including business reports, academic papers, and news articles. It clearly and concisely conveys the idea of a small positive change.

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

"Slight improvement" indicates a small change, whereas "significant improvement" suggests a more substantial and noticeable change. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you are describing.