slightly dipped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly dipped" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been lowered or reduced a small amount, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The temperature slightly dipped overnight, making it a bit cooler in the morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This was partly because Richardson, feeling protected, slightly dipped her head and leaned in toward, rather than away, from contact.

The New York Times - Sports

The slightly dipped seat, the gently tapering legs, the exquisitely turned armrests are both logical and a visual and tactile delight.

BBC

Active users in the U.S. might have slightly dipped but thanks to an aggressive international expansion, there are more players now than ever, with 500 million games played monthly.

TechCrunch

It consisted of a prenuclear high-tone pitch accent on the sentence-initial verb, followed by a slightly dipped F0 transition that led over to a nuclear high-tone pitch accent on the sentence-final target word.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Even more worrisome is that the proportion slightly dipped from that of 20 years ago, despite an increased focus on combating gender inequality in recent years.

Huffington Post

I had only slightly dipped my toe into the dark, swirling, bottomless ocean that is man's capacity for violence and hate and even that made me feel out of my depth.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Well… It actually dropped slightly, dipping from 27.72 at the beginning of 2007 to 27.45 when the lights go out on Sunday.

The New York Times

And shares of Apple are slightly dipping after news of SanDisk's new MP3 player hit the markets.

Forbes

Some clubs will lose sponsors and investors, stadium attendance will slightly dip and fans will protest ticket prices and debate a salary cap.

Forbes

The layer is sub-horizontal and slightly dipping eastward, corresponding to the boundary between the subducting Indian Plate and the overriding Burma Plate.

Earth, Planets and Space

No spinal processes are evident on L1 L3, but L4 carries a rather small process slightly dipping caudally.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or data, use "slightly dipped" to convey a minor decrease without exaggerating the change. It's ideal for nuanced reporting.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly dipped" when the decrease is substantial. Instead, opt for stronger verbs like "decreased significantly" or "plummeted" to accurately reflect the magnitude of the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly dipped" functions as a compound adjective describing a state or condition that has experienced a minor decrease. It modifies a noun, providing information about the extent of a change. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly dipped" is a grammatically sound way to describe a minimal decrease or reduction. It finds usage across various contexts, predominantly in news media, science, and general reference material as analyzed by Ludwig. While the phrase is considered correct and usable, remember to avoid overstating any decrease and opt for more precise alternatives when necessary. As Ludwig AI points out, it is appropriate for formal writing, yet careful to match the degree with an appropriate modifier for the verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally declined

Replaces "dipped" with "declined" emphasizing a gentle downward trend.

barely decreased

Emphasizes how small the decrement is.

gently lowered

Emphasizes the gradual nature of the decrease, swapping "dipped" for "lowered".

minimally reduced

Replaces "dipped" with "reduced", focusing on the small degree of change.

softly declined

Replaces "dipped" with "declined" emphasizing a smoothing downward trend.

moderately decreased

Substitutes "slightly" with "moderately" and "dipped" with "decreased", indicating a somewhat larger reduction.

fractionally diminished

Highlights the minute scale of the reduction, using "fractionally" and "diminished".

mildly subsided

Uses "subsided" to suggest a lessening or settling down, indicating a reduction.

somewhat lessened

Implies a decrease that is perceptible, but not large in magnitude.

almost imperceptibly declined

It highlights how hard to perceive is the decrement.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly dipped" to describe a small decrease in something, such as "The temperature "slightly dipped" overnight" or "The company's profits "slightly dipped" this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "slightly dipped"?

Some alternatives to "slightly dipped" include "marginally declined", "moderately decreased", or "minimally reduced", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "slightly dipped" in formal writing?

Yes, "slightly dipped" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you want to convey a mild decrease without being overly dramatic. However, consider the context and whether a more precise term might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "slightly dipped" and "significantly dipped"?

"Slightly dipped" indicates a small decrease, while "significantly dipped" implies a much larger and more noticeable decrease. Using the appropriate adverb is crucial for accurately representing the extent of the change.