slightly ahead of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly ahead of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something as being earlier or sooner than something else by a small amount. For example, "Tim arrived at the meeting slightly ahead of everyone else."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That ranked 76th, slightly ahead of Providence, R. I

The New York Times - Sports

He's slightly ahead of Scholes for me".

The Guardian - Sport

McEwan was walking slightly ahead of me, amid beech trees.

The New Yorker

That was slightly ahead of what the City expected.

The Guardian - Business

Smith & Nephew's results came in slightly ahead of analysts' expectations.

The Guardian - Business

But I think we are slightly ahead of schedule now".

The Guardian - Sport

NBC finished fourth, only slightly ahead of CW.

The New York Times

Revenue fell 27 percent, to $213 million, slightly ahead of Wall Street expectations.

The New York Times - Tech

Recent polls put his conservative Liberal-National Party Coalition slightly ahead of Labor.

Independent

I think he's slightly ahead of the crop with all those young kids coming through".

The New York Times - Sports

That implies the government is slightly ahead of its plan to cut the structural deficit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly ahead of" to indicate a minor lead or progression, ensuring clarity and avoiding exaggeration. This is particularly effective in reports and analytical writing.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly ahead of" when the difference is substantial. Using it in such contexts can diminish the significance of the actual difference, misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly ahead of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It is used to indicate that something is in a leading position by a small degree. Ludwig's examples show its versatile use across diverse contexts, from sports to business.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly ahead of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate a small lead or advantage. According to Ludwig, it’s grammatically correct and commonly found in diverse contexts such as news, business, and science. When using this phrase, ensure the lead is truly marginal to avoid misleading your audience. Alternatives include "a bit in front of" and "marginally exceeding", each with its nuance. Use "slightly ahead of" to provide precise details about relative positions or states, and be mindful of overstating the lead. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound choice for indicating a narrow advantage, promoting clarity and accuracy in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit in front of

Indicates a small degree of advancement, using more informal language.

barely leading

Highlights the act of leading by an extremely narrow margin.

just outpacing

Highlights the act of exceeding slightly in a competitive context.

slightly exceeding

Implies surpassing something by a narrow margin. This phrase is more formal than "slightly ahead of".

marginally exceeding

Implies surpassing something by a narrow margin in a more formal tone.

a shade ahead

Uses a figurative expression to indicate a small degree of advancement.

nudging past

Indicates a gentle movement forward, surpassing something with a slight push.

coming before by a whisker

Similar to 'a hair's breadth', emphasizing how closely something leads.

a hair's breadth before

Suggests being just barely in advance, emphasizing the minimal difference.

somewhat superior to

Conveys a slight advantage, but focuses more on the aspect of superiority.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly ahead of" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly ahead of" to indicate that something is a little bit in front or more advanced than something else. For example, "Our project is "slightly ahead of" schedule" or "The company's profits are "slightly ahead of" last year's."

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly ahead of"?

Alternatives to "slightly ahead of" include "a bit in front of", "marginally exceeding", or "just outpacing". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "slightly ahead of" in formal writing?

Yes, "slightly ahead of" is appropriate in formal writing, particularly when you need to precisely indicate a minor advantage or progression. It's suitable for reports, business documents, and academic papers.

What's the difference between "slightly ahead of" and "significantly ahead of"?

"Slightly ahead of" indicates a small lead or advancement, while "significantly ahead of" implies a much larger, more noticeable difference. Use "slightly" when the margin is small and "significantly" when the margin is considerable.