slightly drop

USAGE SUMMARY

"slightly drop" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has decreased only by a small amount. For example, "Sales for the quarter slightly dropped compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

However, those slightly drop in dodecane and tetradecane.

Nanoscale Research Letters

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) [3], Sub-Saharan Africa only has an electrification rate of 32% and, if no concerted efforts and policies are put in place immediately, it is feared that in 2030, the number of people without access to electricity will only slightly drop to 1.2 billion as projected in 2030 by IEA [4].

Energy, Sustainability and Society

When C4 is sulfated, calculated chemical shifts of the adjacent C3 and C5 slightly drop, which is also observed in the experiments, where the similar chemical shift changes are observed for C5 when C6 is sulfated.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Unemployment among blacks improved slightly, dropping from 14.5percentto13.1percentcent, but that too was no significant gain.

The New York Times

Another difference was a long, relaxed silhouette, with chemises or dresses with a slightly dropped waist.

The New York Times

There were black shorts with a narrow leg and a slightly dropped crotch.

The New York Times

The silhouette was elongated, with a slightly dropped waist, and Mr. Maier artfully removed the vintage from his prints.

The New York Times

It seemed that of the elastic mechanical parameters, the storage modulus and the high modulus were even slightly dropped as a result of degradation.

Journal of Biomechanics

Under PRO tests for power generation, the membrane power density slightly drops to 90.8% of the initial value after a 12-h test at ΔP=15 bar.

Journal of Membrane Science

The company is also changing its name slightly — dropping the Web 2.0-style spelling in favor of Banters, which the company says is more practical.

The New York Times

The lack of growth in April saw annual growth falter slightly, dropping from 4.4% to 4.1%: But there is reason to think this is not all bad news.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly drop" when you want to indicate a minor decrease, avoiding exaggeration. This conveys precision and avoids misleading the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly drop" when the decrease is significant. Choose stronger terms like "decrease substantially" or "plummet" to accurately reflect the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly drop" functions as a verb phrase where "slightly" modifies the verb "drop", indicating the degree to which something decreases. It's used to express a minor reduction or decline. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly drop" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a minor decrease. According to Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for use in written English to show that something has decreased only by a small amount. Its frequency in both scientific and news media suggests versatility across different registers, though primarily neutral to professional. When using "slightly drop", ensure the context accurately reflects the magnitude of the decrease to avoid misleading the reader. While synonyms like "decrease marginally" or "decline a little" exist, selecting the most appropriate alternative depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease marginally

Emphasizes the small degree of reduction.

decline a little

Highlights a small downward trend.

fall slightly

Focuses on the action of falling or reducing in value or amount.

diminish marginally

Stresses the limited extent of the reduction or weakening.

reduce somewhat

Indicates a certain degree of reduction, which is not substantial.

dip slightly

Similar to 'drop', but implies a quick, temporary decrease.

descend marginally

Suggests a minor movement downwards.

lessen slightly

Focuses on the act of something becoming less.

ease off a bit

Indicates a slight relaxation or reduction in intensity.

slight downturn

Changes the phrase to a noun, referring to a small decline.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly drop" to describe a small decrease. For instance, "The temperature will "slightly drop" overnight" or "Profits "slightly drop" during the off-season".

What's a synonym for "slightly drop"?

Alternatives to "slightly drop" include "decrease marginally", "decline a little", or "fall slightly". Choose the one that best fits the context.

Is it more formal to say "slightly drop" or another phrase?

The phrase "slightly drop" is generally neutral. More formal alternatives might include "diminish marginally", while less formal options could be "dip slightly".

Is "slightly drop" always appropriate when describing a decrease?

While "slightly drop" indicates a small decrease, ensure the context accurately reflects the magnitude. If the decrease is more substantial, consider stronger terms like "decrease substantially" or "decline significantly".