slightly amiss

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly amiss" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not quite right or is somewhat off, often in a subtle or minor way. Example: "There seems to be something slightly amiss with the calculations in this report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Slightly amiss, with luggage in tow, I crisscross the streets en route to my destination.

Forbes

From my perch in the sky I watch as, slightly amiss, with luggage in tow, the ants far below crisscross the streets en route to their destination.

Forbes

A good grinder is continually evaluating the trim of the sails and working the winch to make adjustments if something looks even slightly amiss.

The New York Times - Sports

Something seems slightly amiss here, and I'll keep you posted on any developments.

TechCrunch

Fair enough — they've got some skin in the game, after all — but there was something slightly amiss about how the question was framed.

TechCrunch

Something is ever so slightly amiss.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The plane was slightly turning, nothing was amiss, yet I knew something bad was going to happen.

Huffington Post

So when the Star splashed some slightly more revealing shots the other week, nothing really seemed amiss.

The Guardian

LOS ANGELES — If a report earlier in the day about Kobe Bryant's knee being drained recently turned out to be slightly off target, nothing else about the Lakers' star was amiss Monday night when Los Angeles opened the Western Conference finals with a 128-107 thrashing of the Phoenix Suns.

The New York Times - Sports

But let's allow that Cassie's slightly off-kilter beauty contributes to the sense that something is amiss at Medenham.

The New York Times - Arts

Although both pork chop and duck breast were a tad overcooked for my taste, nothing was amiss with their garnishes: black rice and cranberry complemented the duck's richness, and slightly tart fennel and onion did much of the same for the sweetness of the pork.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly amiss" to convey a subtle sense of something being wrong or out of place, without implying a major problem. It's ideal for situations where a gentle understatement is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly amiss" when the situation warrants a stronger term. If the issue is significant, choose a more direct and impactful phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly amiss" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is not quite right or is somewhat out of order. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to express a mild sense of something being wrong.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly amiss" is a useful adjective phrase for indicating that something is not quite right in a subtle way. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and appears primarily in news and media contexts. It serves to soften negative observations and is best used when a gentle understatement is appropriate. When communicating a big issue, you can use "clearly amiss". While not extremely common, "slightly amiss" provides a nuanced way to express that something is a "bit off" without being overly critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not quite right

A common and versatile phrase indicating something is not perfect or correct.

a bit off

More informal and general, suggesting something is not quite right without specifying the nature of the problem.

a shade off

Emphasizes a very slight deviation from the norm or expectation.

somewhat wrong

Emphasizes the incorrectness of something, although to a limited degree.

a trifle incorrect

Highlights a minor error or inaccuracy.

a little out of place

Suggests something is not in its correct position or arrangement.

slightly out of order

Implies a minor malfunction or deviation from the expected sequence.

a little unusual

Highlights something deviating from the norm in a small way.

a touch askew

More figurative, indicating something is not perfectly aligned or balanced.

somewhat awry

A more formal way of saying something has gone wrong or off course.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly amiss" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly amiss" to indicate that something is not quite right or is somewhat off, often in a subtle or minor way. For example: "There seems to be something "slightly amiss" with the calculations in this report."

What are some alternatives to "slightly amiss"?

You can use alternatives like "a bit off", "not quite right", or "a little unusual" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "slightly amiss" or "a little amiss"?

"Slightly amiss" and "a little amiss" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context.

What's the difference between "slightly amiss" and "clearly amiss"?

"Slightly amiss" implies a minor issue or something being subtly wrong, whereas "clearly amiss" indicates that the problem or issue is obvious and easily noticeable.