slightly common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly common" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat frequent or typical, but not overly so. Example: "The term 'selfie' has become slightly common in everyday conversation among teenagers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, DDR2 mutation does not exist concentrated area and missense mutation are more slightly common in the extracellular domain and kinase domain.

BMC Cancer

In Malaysia, where a similarly draconian stance towards drug use (and users) has mellowed slightly, common obstacles to access to those we identify were evident: punitive laws criminalizing behaviors; heavy-handed police responses; little attempt by government to educate communities.

Globalization and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Paget disease was slightly more common, whereas sarcomas tended to be less common, though significant at 10% level only.

BMC Cancer

Cell phone use while driving was slightly less common among drivers ages 70 74 and significantly less common among drivers age 75and older.

Injury Epidemiology

Discontinuation rates were similar across the treatment groups, but withdrawal because of ineffective therapy was slightly more common with rosiglitazone/metformin and withdrawal for adverse events slightly more common with repaglinide/metformin.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

Radiotherapy was slightly less common in those who were older at diagnosis, was increasingly common over time and was more frequent in those who received breast-conserving surgery.

British Journal of Cancer

Sexually-transmitted infections were rated as slightly more common in the marginal areas of Las Pampas, while AIDS was rated as more common in urban Lima.

BMC Women's Health

In contrast, cartilage abnormalities were slightly more common in women (76.5% versus 72%) but full-thickness cartilage defects were more common in men (24% versus 14.7%).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Svetlana could tolerate a transfusion of the slightly more common O-negative, were any available.

The New York Times

It's official: the above trend is slightly more common than you thought.

The New Yorker

Patrilineal kinship is slightly more common; an illegitimate child belongs to neither parental clan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly common", ensure the context provides a clear comparison to other items, making the 'slight' difference in commonality meaningful. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly common" when the subject is actually very common or completely rare. Overstating the degree undermines the intended message. Verify actual prevalence to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly common" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. It describes the degree to which something is prevalent or frequent. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is used to qualify the commonality of a subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly common" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to indicate something is somewhat prevalent without being overly typical. As Ludwig confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, including scientific, news, and general discussions. When using "slightly common", ensure the context offers a clear comparison to highlight the 'slight' difference in commonality. While versatile, it's important to accurately reflect the degree of commonality to avoid misrepresenting the subject's prevalence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat frequent

Indicates a similar level of occurrence but uses 'frequent' instead of 'common'.

moderately prevalent

Replaces 'common' with 'prevalent', suggesting a broader distribution or existence.

a bit typical

Uses 'typical' to suggest something is usual or expected to a small degree.

marginally usual

Replaces 'common' with 'usual', indicating a slight degree of normalcy.

just a little ordinary

Emphasizes the ordinariness of something, with a slight qualifier.

barely commonplace

Highlights that something is only just reaching the status of being a common occurrence.

scarcely widespread

Suggests the item is uncommon, but more common than other items.

almost routine

Focuses on the habitual aspect, indicating something is nearly a standard practice.

relatively familiar

Suggests a level of recognition and awareness, but only to a certain extent.

incidentally generalized

Implies the spread or application of something is casual or unintentional and only partial.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly common" to describe something that occurs somewhat frequently but isn't overwhelmingly typical. For example, "Among those surveyed, side effects were "slightly common", but not severe".

What are some alternatives to "slightly common"?

Alternatives include "somewhat frequent", "moderately prevalent", or "a bit typical". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "slightly common" or "somewhat common"?

Both "slightly common" and "somewhat common" are acceptable. "Slightly common" implies a smaller degree of commonality than "somewhat common", which suggests a more noticeable level of frequency.

What is the difference between "slightly common" and "rare"?

"Slightly common" indicates something occurs more than rarely; it has a degree of prevalence, while "rare" means it occurs infrequently or is unusual. It's a question of degree; "slightly common" is more frequent than something that is "rare".