slightly beyond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly beyond" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small degree of distance or extent that surpasses a certain point or limit. Example: "The temperature today is slightly beyond what we expected for this time of year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But social remains just slightly beyond its grasp.

The Guardian - Tech

Baeza said the foundation had gone slightly beyond the midway point in its fund-raising effort.

The New York Times

And yet there's a hyperreal quality that takes it slightly beyond your typical teen-reality series.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He adored the Yankees and the Dave Matthews Band and enjoyed living slightly beyond his means.

The New York Times

But while the Gormenghast novels suggest intense physical worlds, these worlds seem slightly beyond precise reconstruction.

The Guardian - Arts

It's slightly beyond Gera, who attempts an Ibrahimovich-esque flip at it, and fails.

The Guardian - Sport

Giving early goals in each half, Montréal's performance went slightly beyond the feckless play that has defined their season.

The Guardian - Sport

Its rapid-fire footwork, unexpected changes of direction and jumps that spring into the air from nothing are still slightly beyond the Ailey dancers' grasp.

The New York Times - Arts

The Republican primary calendar is only slightly beyond the halfway mark, with Mr. Santorum and, to a lesser extent, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, still scrapping for delegates.

The New York Times

We have had him on something of a pedestal: it's as though, with time, he's achieved a status slightly beyond the human.

The Guardian

There is no doubt that clubs might have stretched themselves on the back of this deal, bought players and paid wages slightly beyond their means.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly beyond" to indicate a small degree of exceeding a limit, expectation, or boundary. It adds a nuance of precision, suggesting the difference is noticeable but not substantial.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly beyond" when the extent is significantly larger than what the word 'slightly' implies. Misusing it can dilute your meaning and mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly beyond" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the extent to which something exceeds a certain point or limit. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its role in quantifying degrees of difference or extension.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly beyond" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express a small degree of exceeding a limit or expectation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and frequent across various contexts, notably in News & Media and Scientific domains. To ensure clarity, consider alternatives like "marginally beyond" or "a bit over" for nuanced meaning. A key writing tip: reserve "slightly beyond" for situations where the extent genuinely reflects a minimal excess, avoiding overstatement. Leveraging this phrase effectively enhances precision and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally beyond

Indicates a very small degree of exceeding, closer to the limit than "slightly beyond".

a bit over

More informal, suggesting a small excess in a less precise manner.

just past

Emphasizes the act of passing a specific point by a small margin.

somewhat exceeding

More formal, highlighting the act of surpassing a certain threshold.

a little over

Similar to "a bit over" but slightly more formal.

somewhat past

Highlights the action of going past something to a certain extent.

exceeding by a small margin

More descriptive and formal, emphasizing the narrowness of the excess.

barely surpassing

Indicates the act of surpassing something only just enough to qualify.

just over

A simple and direct way to convey a small amount of excess.

by a hair's breadth

Figurative language emphasizing an extremely small margin.

FAQs

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

Use "slightly beyond" to indicate that something extends or surpasses a certain limit by a small amount. For example, "The project's budget went "slightly beyond" the initial estimate."

What can I say instead of "slightly beyond"?

You can use alternatives like "marginally beyond", "a bit over", or "just past" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a little beyond" or "slightly beyond"?

Both "a little beyond" and "slightly beyond" are acceptable, but "slightly beyond" often implies a more precise or measured degree of difference compared to the more general "a little beyond".

When should I not use the phrase "slightly beyond"?

Avoid using "slightly beyond" when the amount by which something exceeds a limit is significant or substantial. In such cases, phrases like "considerably beyond" or "well beyond" would be more appropriate.