slightly atypical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly atypical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that deviates from the norm or standard to a small degree. Example: "The results of the experiment were slightly atypical, suggesting that further investigation was needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Because I was already following a slightly atypical path in academia, the TED Fellows Program was a good fit.

Nature

Her education track is slightly atypical in that she doesn't take classes in order to find a path to her future career.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What is slightly atypical here is that the caramel is used as a braising liquid for sliced onions and then as a cooking medium and a glaze for the tofu.

The New York Times - Food

Another technique CatAcademy uses to enhance the learning delivered via the app is to encourage users to apply a phrase that they have learnt within a lesson — such as Quiero comer una hamburguesa — in a slightly atypical context, later on, so they have to make a "slight leap of imagination" to connect the two.

TechCrunch

Another technique CatAcademy uses to enhance the learning delivered via the app is to encourage users to apply a phrase that they have learnt within a lesson — such as Quiero comer una hamburguesa — in a slightly atypical context, later on, so they have to make a "slight leap of imagination" to connect the two.

TechCrunch

When you're raised in the hallowed halls of Hollywood, your childhood tends to be slightly atypical.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Although, players appear to reject atypical cooperators slightly more often than typical cooperators, the confidence intervals for the interaction term just crossed zero, meaning that the evidence for this effect is weak (cooperators rejected typical = 0.3 ± 0.01; atypical = 0.5 ± 0.02; table 2; electronic supplementary material, figure S1).

Biology Letters

Comorbid disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behavioral problems) were slightly more frequent in the atypical group.

Pediatric Neurology

The risk of stroke is slightly higher with use of atypical rather than typical antipsychotic drugs.

British Medical Journal

The neoplastic cells consisted of medium sized atypical lymphocytes with slightly eccentrically located nuclei with coarse chromatin.

BMC Clinical Pathology

Although proliferative activity of Brunner's glands near surface epithelium was not described in their study, slightly increased proliferative activities in atypical glands and sclerotic glandular foci were reported with MIB-1 labeling index of 3% and 2%, respectively.

BMC Gastroenterology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly atypical", consider adding context to clarify what the subject is deviating from, enhancing clarity and preventing misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly atypical" when the subject is markedly different or unusual; this weakens the description and undermines its accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly atypical" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies nouns to indicate that something deviates from the expected norm to a small degree. As noted by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly atypical" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that describes something deviating mildly from the norm. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It appears frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts, offering a nuanced way to characterize subjects without overstating their differences. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the degree of deviation is accurately represented, and providing context helps to prevent misinterpretations. Alternatives such as "somewhat unusual" or "marginally different" can be used for semantic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unusual

Indicates a departure from the norm to a moderate degree; implies more noticeable deviation than "slightly atypical".

marginally different

Focuses on the degree of difference, suggesting a small but potentially significant deviation.

a bit out of the ordinary

Emphasizes the deviation from the common or expected, with a slightly informal tone.

somewhat unconventional

Highlights the lack of adherence to conventions or norms, implying a deliberate choice.

mildly divergent

Suggests a gentle departure from a standard path or expectation, often in a developmental or evolutionary context.

a shade different

Emphasizes subtlety and minimal change from what is typical or ordinary.

not entirely typical

Suggests that while not fully conforming to type, the subject retains some typical characteristics.

relatively uncommon

Focuses on the infrequency of the subject, indicating it occurs less often than the norm.

deviating slightly

Highlights the action of moving away from a standard or expected course by a small amount.

off the beaten path

Suggests a departure from common practices or routes, with a connotation of exploration or individuality.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly atypical" to describe something that deviates from the norm to a small degree. For example, "The results of the experiment were slightly atypical, suggesting that further investigation was needed."

What phrases are similar to "slightly atypical"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat unusual", "marginally different", or "a bit out of the ordinary" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something is "slightly atypical", or should I use another phrase?

Yes, "slightly atypical" is correct and commonly used to describe something that varies minimally from the norm. The choice of phrase depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "slightly atypical" and "atypical"?

"Slightly atypical" indicates a minor deviation from the norm, while "atypical" suggests a more significant departure. The addition of "slightly" softens the degree of difference.