slight upturn

USAGE SUMMARY

"slight upturn" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a small increase or improvement. For example, "After the company made a few changes, there was a slight upturn in productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The economy seems to have taken a slight upturn in the latest two quarters.

The Economist

Economists had expected a slight upturn, based on reports from merchants.

The New York Times

After meeting last Tuesday, the Federal Reserve acknowledged the slight upturn in economic conditions but reiterated its intention to keep short-term rates near zero through late 2014.

The New York Times

And a billboard shows the Striding Man navigating a fever chart, reminiscent of recent stock-market performance, with jagged peaks, deep valleys and a final slight upturn.

The New York Times

With little more than a slight upturn in form Orlando could quite soon find themselves exactly where they want to be.

The Guardian - Sport

But the slight upturn in fortunes has come too late for Beiersdorfer, who had been brought back in as the self-styled Dino's saviour.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Despite a slight recent upturn, plastic bag use by weight is down 39% since 2006.

The Guardian - Opinion

It doesn't have to be a toothy grin, just a slight friendly upturning of your lips that eventually becomes second nature.

WikiHow

Ta Prohm is a four-sided tower, elaborately reinforced by modern carpentry, that soars about 12m out of the surrounding vegetation, with Bayon-style faces – a prominent, wide nose, thick lips upturned into a slight smile and protruding almond eyes – on each side.

BBC

With the exception of the low-cost airlines, the big carriers say that they are not expecting to see an upturn - and then it will be slight - until December.

The Guardian - Business

However, in recent years there has been a steady improvement - albeit slight - in Tottenham's fortunes against Chelsea, an upturn sparked by their League Cup final success in 2008, when Spurs beat the Blues 2-1.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data trends, quantify the "slight upturn" with specific numbers or percentages to provide more context.

Common error

Avoid using "slight upturn" when the increase is substantial. Use stronger terms like "significant growth" or "major surge" for larger changes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight upturn" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a minor positive change or improvement in a specific metric or situation, such as economic indicators or sales figures. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

13%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slight upturn" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a minor positive change or improvement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, where it objectively reports on modest positive trends, such as in economic data or performance metrics. While "slight upturn" is generally neutral in tone, it's important to avoid overstating the significance of the improvement. Alternatives like "minor increase" or "small improvement" can be used for variety, while being mindful of the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor increase

This alternative replaces "upturn" with a more general term for increase, keeping the "slight" modifier.

small improvement

This alternative uses "improvement" instead of "upturn", focusing on the positive aspect of the change.

marginal rise

This alternative uses "rise" instead of "upturn" and "marginal" as a synonym for "slight".

modest recovery

This alternative suggests a regaining of ground after a decline, similar to an upturn.

gentle incline

This alternative replaces "upturn" with a visual metaphor, suggesting a gradual increase.

limited growth

This alternative emphasizes the restricted nature of the expansion.

weak upswing

This alternative emphasizes a temporary increasing.

insignificant positive change

This alternative describes how imperceptible change in direction is.

negligible surge

This alternative means the change is so small that is not worth to be considered.

faint improvement

This alternative underlines the weakness of the increase.

FAQs

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

You can use "slight upturn" to describe a small improvement or increase in something. For example, "The company experienced a slight upturn in sales last quarter".

What can I say instead of "slight upturn"?

You can use alternatives like "minor increase", "small improvement", or "marginal rise" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "slight upturn" or "slightly upturn"?

"Slight upturn" is correct when used as a noun phrase describing a small increase. "Slightly upturn" would be used as a verb phrase, such as "to slightly upturn the corners of your mouth".

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

"Slight upturn" indicates a small, often barely noticeable increase, while "significant upturn" implies a much larger and more important increase.