slightly lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not fully sufficient or is missing a small amount of what is needed. Example: "The report was slightly lacking in detail, which made it difficult to understand the full scope of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Pamuk had fallen into political disfavor for comments he had made about the Armenian genocide, and the immediate domestic reaction was perhaps slightly lacking in warmth.

The New Yorker

Having the concentration power, delivering the lines over and again: it's a discipline that British actors have that the Americans are slightly lacking in".

Independent

Perhaps no other European country has achieved so much, on so many fronts, so quickly.Yet Spain is also slightly ill-at-ease, slightly lacking in self-confidence.

The Economist

With young Will Hooley deputising splendidly for Myler, the Saints offloaded out of the tackle beautifully in the first quarter and defended with an intensity slightly lacking in their unscheduled defeat at Wasps the previous week.

The Guardian - Sport

For those of you who quite like Susan Boyle but feel she has always been slightly lacking when it comes to documenting homies, bitches and how it feels to get high on some "bubonic chronic", good news.

The Guardian - Music

It was full of phrases like "tissue engineering" and "therapeutic cloning", populated by people who excitedly talked of growing miniature kidneys and making embryos, and slightly lacking in a wholesale consideration of the moral aspects of genetic mechanics.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"Half Past France" and "Antarctica Starts Here" then led proceedings gracefully to the climax of a re-positioned "Macbeth", which slightly lacked the careering momentum of the album version.

Independent

Secondly, the results of meta-analysis might slightly lack reliability to some extent since it is a retrospective study, which may induce potential publication bias.

BioMed Research International

This may be due to the slightly lack of selectivity of the sensor towards permethrin.

Chemistry Central Journal

In the later works, their performances, which are slightly pallid, lacking in real instrumental pungency and the last touch of finesse, hardly stand up against the finest by international bands.

The Guardian - Music

The lateral surface of the dorsal centra is only slightly depressed, lacking the discrete excavaction or fossa present in basal sauropods (e.g., Lessemsaurus; [11]) or the pleurocoels that characterize eusauropods [18].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly lacking" to express a mild deficiency or inadequacy without being overly critical. This is suitable when you want to point out a shortcoming gently.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly lacking" when the deficiency is significant. Choose a stronger phrase like "substantially lacking" or "critically deficient" to accurately reflect the extent of the problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly lacking" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that something possesses a certain quality, but to a degree that is somewhat insufficient. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Tech

11%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly lacking" is a versatile phrase used to express a mild deficiency. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and appears in a range of contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. Its nuanced meaning allows for constructive criticism without being overly harsh. When using the phrase, consider whether the "lacking" element is truly minor; otherwise, stronger terms like "substantially deficient" may be more appropriate. Consider also "somewhat deficient" or "marginally insufficient" if you wish to diversify your phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly deficient

Direct synonym, replacing "lacking" with "deficient".

mildly deficient

Indicates a lesser degree of deficiency than "somewhat deficient".

somewhat deficient

Indicates a moderate degree of inadequacy.

somewhat inadequate

Similar to "somewhat deficient" but emphasizes the inadequacy more directly.

marginally insufficient

Highlights that the inadequacy is only by a small margin.

somewhat wanting

Uses "wanting" to indicate a lack, which is less common but still understandable.

a bit short

Informal way of saying that something is not quite enough.

barely adequate

Suggests that something is just meeting the minimum requirements, with little room to spare.

a little weak

Suggests a lack of strength or intensity.

not quite up to par

Implies that something is below the expected standard.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly lacking" to describe something that has a minor deficiency. For instance, "The presentation was "slightly lacking" in visual aids, but the content was excellent."

What are some alternatives to "slightly lacking"?

Alternatives include "somewhat deficient", "marginally insufficient", or "a bit short". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "slightly lacking" or "lacking slightly"?

"Slightly lacking" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Lacking slightly" is grammatically correct but sounds less idiomatic.

What's the difference between "slightly lacking" and "completely lacking"?

"Slightly lacking" indicates a minor deficiency, while "completely lacking" means something is entirely absent. For example, a dish might be "slightly lacking" in salt, or "completely lacking" in flavor.