slight number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight number of" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to refer to a small quantity, but "slight" is not commonly used to describe numbers. Example: "There was a slight number of attendees at the event, which was unexpected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Twenty years is now considered a distance in time that might indicate safety, but a slight number of AIDS cases are anomolous; that is, the delay in illness is not explicable within the assumed rules, even under the most careful, cynical investigation.

The New Yorker

Phenolic compounds are the most representative chemical compounds with the above-described bioactive properties, but due to the slight number of in vivo studies reporting their anti- Candida potential, few conclusions can be stated.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr. Rosner said that after the United States lost 18 soldiers in Somalia in 1993, military and government officials had the misplaced perception that the nation had become averse to even the slightest number of casualties in a war.

The New York Times

However, some subtle features can be useful in the histological diagnosis such as a slight increased number of fusiform and loosely arranged mast cells situated around dilated superficial capillaries.

Plosone

The transformation of this technique to CT and CX showed a quasi-identical distribution of the CDs except a slight higher number of CDs in the third Sector.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In human cell cultures, the presence of tempol also led to decreased numbers of non-telomeric γ-foci and to slight decreased number of SA-β-gal positive cells (see Additional file 2A).

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Despite slight increases, the number of women in leadership positions in American universities and colleges continues to be low.

Huffington Post

It is noteworthy also that Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, which had a remarkably high publication index, showed a slight decrease in number of publications over a 25 year period.

Plosone

A slight increase in number of HFMD cases was observed in September and October.

BMC Infectious Diseases

A slight to moderate number of heterophils and macrophages infiltrated both, bone debris and the fibrin/blood clot matrix.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

For the IMC there was slight increase in number of condoms taken from Phase 1 to Phase 2 (285 vs 286).

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more common and accepted phrases such as "small number of" or "few" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using adjectives like "slight" to directly describe the size of a number. While "slight" can modify changes or differences, it's not typically used to describe the quantity itself. Instead, use "small" or "few".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight number of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase, attempting to quantify something. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's not considered correct in standard written English, and is better replaced by alternatives such as "small number of" or "few".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "slight number of" is used to express a limited quantity, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. Ludwig AI suggests opting for more conventional alternatives like "small number of" or "few". Although it appears in both news and scientific contexts, its infrequent usage and questionable grammar make it advisable to choose alternative phrasing, particularly in formal writing. The most authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Guardian; however, the scarcity of examples underscores its uncommon nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small number of

A more common and grammatically standard way of expressing a limited quantity.

slim number of

Uses 'slim' to describe a quantity that is small and perhaps barely sufficient.

sparse number of

Replaces 'slight' with 'sparse', implying a thinly distributed quantity.

slight incidence of

Shifts from 'number' to 'incidence', focusing on the occurrence rate rather than quantity.

short number of

Uses 'short' instead of 'slight' to describe the quantity, indicating a small amount.

slight prevalence of

Shifts to 'prevalence', focusing on how widespread something is in a population.

insignificant number of

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the small quantity.

slight proportion of

Replaces 'number' with 'proportion', focusing on the fraction of a whole.

tiny number of

Substitutes 'slight' with 'tiny' for a more emphatic description of smallness.

subtle number of

Uses 'subtle' to indicate a quantity that is not easily noticed or detected.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "slight number of"?

More appropriate alternatives include "small number of", "few", or "limited number of". These options are grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Is "slight number of" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "slight number of" is not considered standard English. It's better to use more common and grammatically correct alternatives like "small number of".

Can I use "slight" to describe quantities?

Using "slight" to directly describe a quantity can sound awkward. It's more common to use "slight" to describe changes or differences (e.g., "a slight increase"). For quantities, prefer adjectives like "small" or "few".

What's the difference between "slight number of" and "small number of"?

"Small number of" is the preferred and more grammatically correct option. "Slight number of" is less common and may sound unnatural to native English speakers. "Small" is a direct and accepted way to indicate a limited quantity.