slightly lagging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly lagging" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is experiencing a minor delay or slower performance compared to others. Example: "The internet connection is slightly lagging, making it difficult to stream videos smoothly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Lilly's stock rose 3%, slightly lagging the S&P 500.

Forbes

At five years, 14percentt of water startups reached profitability, slightly lagging the 17percentt overall average.

TechCrunch

In late-morning European trade, Fiat shares were up 1.2% at 7.81 euros, slightly lagging the DJ Stoxx index of European auto stocks, which was up 2%.

Forbes

That could mean trouble for U.S. stocks, which mirrored the euro's rise on the way up and if the weak performance of the S&P 500 thus far in 2010 is any guide are only slightly lagging on the way back down.

Forbes

The Shogunate forces had been slightly lagging in term of equipment, although the French military mission to Japan (1867 1868) had recently trained a core elite force.

Wikipedia

Therefore, in this sense, and to the degree in which we are slightly lagging behind in Greece, as a broader media sector we must have our ears open and bring about a shift.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

That slightly lagged the national rate of 0.96percentt for the quarter ending March 31.

The New York Times

Few of the other six vignettes have quite the same level of specificity, so the piece slightly lags, as if running out of content before the end.

The New York Times

During those years, Wal-Mart's shares slightly lagged the Standard & Poor's 500 index and significantly underperformed the S.& P. consumer staples index.

The New York Times

In respect of their resistance to hydroxyl radicals, glucans only slightly lag behind chitin.

Nanoscale Research Letters

As for performance, annual sales growth for the top 10 slightly lagged the rest of the list, falling an average 3.4% vs. a 2.5% decline, respectively.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the performance of two entities, use "slightly lagging" to indicate that one is not performing as well as the other, but the difference is small. For example, "Company A's sales are "slightly lagging" behind Company B's this quarter".

Common error

Avoid using "slightly lagging" when the difference is substantial. Using it in such cases can mislead the reader into thinking the difference is less significant than it actually is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly lagging" functions as a descriptive modifier, indicating a state of being a small amount behind or slower compared to a reference point. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English. The examples show its use in contexts like economic performance, stock market trends, and technological adoption.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly lagging" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, employed to describe a minor degree of being behind or slower. It functions as a descriptive modifier, providing a balanced comparison in contexts ranging from news and media to science. While not exceedingly common, it offers a nuanced way to express a small difference without causing alarm. Its use is appropriate in a neutral register, fitting various professional and general communication scenarios. Remember to use this phrase when you want to indicate a small degree of delay or deficiency, avoiding its use when the difference is actually substantial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly trailing behind

Adds redundancy to emphasize the "trailing" aspect of the primary phrase.

only just behind

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which something is lagging.

a bit behind

Indicates a minor degree of being behind, using simpler language.

somewhat trailing

Synonymous but uses "trailing" instead of "lagging", suggesting a visual following.

marginally slower

Focuses on the speed aspect of lagging, using "slower" as the key term.

moderately behind

Uses "moderately" to specify the degree of being behind.

just behind

Implies minimal distance, either physically or metaphorically, in being behind.

a little slow

Uses more informal language to convey a similar meaning.

somewhat delayed

Highlights the delay aspect, suitable for time-sensitive contexts.

nearly keeping pace

Highlights closeness in performance rather than lagging directly.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly lagging" to indicate a minor delay or deficiency. For example, "The project is "slightly lagging" behind schedule, but we expect to catch up soon".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "slightly lagging"?

You can use alternatives like "a bit behind", "somewhat trailing", or "marginally slower" depending on the context.

Is it okay to say "lagging slightly" instead of "slightly lagging"?

Yes, "lagging slightly" is grammatically correct and conveys essentially the same meaning as "slightly lagging". The choice often depends on stylistic preference or sentence structure.

What does "slightly lagging" imply about the magnitude of the difference?

It implies that the difference is small and not particularly concerning. If the difference is significant, other phrases like "considerably behind" or "significantly slower" might be more appropriate.