slightly higher than

USAGE SUMMARY

'slightly higher than' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that one number, quantity, or value is slightly higher than another. For example: "The temperature today was slightly higher than yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Temperatures are slightly higher than in South Africa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Net debt is slightly higher than anticipated due to exceptionals.

The Guardian - Business

Keep the elbow slightly higher than the forearm.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Japan and Korea ranked only slightly higher than Australia.

The Guardian

His monthly outlay is slightly higher than before.

The New York Times

In maths, Scotland ranked slightly higher than England.

The Guardian

That was slightly higher than the previous month.

The New York Times

Instead, their levels were just slightly higher than normal.

The New York Times - Health

Kinetic energy was slightly higher than the world average.

Journal of Hydrology

These values are slightly higher than those reported earlier1 2.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

The working pressure was slightly higher than the atmospheric one.

Journal of Power Sources

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly higher than", ensure the difference you're describing is indeed marginal. Overstating a minor difference can undermine your credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly higher than" when the difference is substantial. For larger discrepancies, use phrases like "significantly higher than" or "much greater than" to accurately reflect the magnitude of the difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly higher than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it possesses a quality to a degree that is just a little more significant compared to another. Ludwig confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly higher than" is a versatile and grammatically sound comparative phrase suitable for various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage for indicating marginal differences. It's most prevalent in news and scientific writing. To ensure clarity, use it only when the difference is genuinely small, and consider alternatives like "marginally exceeding" for nuanced expression. Remember, precision in language enhances credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fractionally greater than

Stresses the minute quantity of the increase.

barely exceeding

Highlights how small is the quantity of increase.

marginally exceeding

Highlights the act of surpassing by a small amount.

just over

Focuses on the minimal difference above a certain point.

modestly surpassing

Highlights the act of outperforming by a small amount.

a tad above

Emphasizes a small degree of elevation.

a bit more than

Simple and direct way of indicating something is slightly more.

somewhat surpassing

Indicates a moderate level of increase or outperformance.

inches above

Conveys a slight increase, similar to the physical action of moving upwards.

taller by a hair

Implies that the difference is so small that is hard to measure.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly higher than" in a sentence?

Use "slightly higher than" to indicate a small difference between two values. For instance, "The unemployment rate this month is "slightly higher than" last month".

What's a good alternative to "slightly higher than"?

Alternatives include "marginally exceeding", "just over", or "a tad above", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it appropriate to use "slightly higher than" in formal writing?

Yes, "slightly higher than" is suitable for formal writing when you need to convey a small difference precisely. It is commonly found in news reports, scientific papers, and business documents.

What's the difference between "slightly higher than" and "significantly higher than"?

"Slightly higher than" indicates a small difference, while "significantly higher than" denotes a large, important difference. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the magnitude of the difference you're describing.