slight incident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight incident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor or trivial event that may have caused some disruption or concern but is not serious. Example: "The meeting was delayed due to a slight incident involving a power outage, but it was resolved quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In what NATO described as a "very small, very slight incident" on June 1st, its aircraft mistakenly dropped at least seven bombs on the Albanian side of the border, scattering television crews who had been observing a furious battle between NATO-backed Albanian fighters and Serb forces using multiple rocket launchers to defend the strategic slopes of Mount Pastrik, just inside Kosovo.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If one were able to follow that imagination -- the inner dramas that loomed so immense compared with the slight incidents that provoked them -- one could see how reality itself was just a fraction of the show".

The New York Times - Books

The slightest incident and they'll say it's my fault".

The New Yorker

As a consequence, when such men of true martial ability and sufficient autonomy emerged, the slightest incident involving any one of them might provoke armed conflict.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For days Saima walked around in a daze, her eyes red; the slightest incident would send her collapsing into hysterical tears.

The New York Times - Magazine

He often portrayed the human ability to turn even the slightest incident or natural detail to emotional profit, seen at its most economical form in "Dust of Snow": The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Taylor, recognizing that the slightest incident could lead to violence, ordered the men home, and many of them complied.

Wikipedia

We had many black neighbors, even a few black friends, 'But they are the good ones,' my father said, that is, until the slightest incident caused him to think otherwise.

Huffington Post

The Italian rugby federation said it was a "slight domestic incident".

BBC

According to KeyHole analytics, Vine is twice as popular as the next biggest video-sharing app on Twitter, SocialCam, even after being removed from Apple's featured section after a slight porn incident.

TechCrunch

In addition, a brief study on influence of slight varied incident angle is carried out, in which aerodynamic lift span-wise coherence is proved obviously affected at low wavenumber range.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event as a "slight incident", ensure that the context accurately reflects its minor nature to avoid misleading your audience. This phrase is most effective when downplaying a situation that could otherwise be perceived as more significant.

Common error

Avoid using "slight incident" to describe events with serious consequences. This can diminish the impact of the situation and appear insensitive. Always match the description to the actual severity of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight incident" functions as a noun phrase where "slight" modifies the noun "incident". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, serving to describe a minor or trivial event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slight incident" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to describe a minor event. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively downplays the significance of an occurrence. While appropriate for various contexts, including news and media, it's essential to ensure the description matches the actual severity of the event to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "minor event" or "small occurrence" can be used for semantic variation. Always consider the context to accurately convey the situation without exaggeration or understatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor event

Replaces "incident" with a synonym that emphasizes its insignificance.

small occurrence

Uses "occurrence" instead of "incident" to denote a happening of little consequence.

trivial matter

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the event.

negligible issue

Highlights that the problem or matter is so small it can be ignored.

insignificant happening

Replaces both "slight" and "incident" with synonyms emphasizing unimportance.

minor disturbance

Suggests a small disruption or interruption.

petty affair

Indicates that the incident is of little importance or seriousness.

inconsequential episode

Uses more formal language to convey the minor nature of the event.

light issue

Describes a problem or matter that is not severe or heavy.

trifling event

Emphasizes the lack of seriousness or worth of the event.

FAQs

What does "slight incident" mean?

A "slight incident" refers to a minor event or occurrence that is not particularly serious or significant.

What can I say instead of "slight incident"?

You can use alternatives like "minor event", "small occurrence", or "trivial matter" depending on the context.

How do you use "slight incident" in a sentence?

You might say, "The meeting was delayed due to a slight incident involving a power outage" or "There was a slight incident during the game, but no one was seriously hurt."

Is there a difference between a "slight incident" and a "major incident"?

Yes, a "slight incident" is minor and of little consequence, while a "major incident" implies a serious event with significant impact or consequences.