slightly later

USAGE SUMMARY

"slightly later" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referencing a time in the near future; for example: "Let's meet up slightly later than originally planned - how does 6 pm sound?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They returned slightly later, rather more tired and beaten.

Independent

Slightly later there is another type of ware that has black decoration on a red slip.

Encyclopedia Britannica

EARLY RISER (Mr. Feinblatt): I'm the first one up, usually sort of 6 30ish, slightly later.

The New York Times

From slightly later, in Burma, come remains of further early simiiforms, Pondaungia and Amphipithecus.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some very high quality murals recently discovered in western Turkistan are dated slightly later.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nor are its slightly later and happily extant lecture halls at Brunel University.

The Guardian - Arts

But what about mature students who study slightly later in life?

The Guardian

A slightly later poll by The Washington Post, however, showed women narrowly favoring Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

Tour operators said business might have been improving slightly later in the summer.

The New York Times - Travel

The culture committee got an email slightly later, but before BBC staff.

The Guardian

"These sort of things will be happening slightly later than expected," she said.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly later" to indicate a relatively small difference in time, avoiding vagueness. For more significant time differences, consider "much later" or "considerably later".

Common error

While "slightly later" is acceptable, excessive use can make formal writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "subsequently" or "thereafter" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly later" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the timing of an action or event. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates that something occurs after a previous event, but not by a significant amount of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly later" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that something occurs a short time after a previous event. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase enjoys broad applicability, spanning academic, journalistic, and everyday contexts. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overuse, especially in formal writing, and consider alternatives like "subsequently" or "thereafter" for stylistic variation. Ludwig's examples confirm its frequent use across various domains, demonstrating its value in providing clear temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little later

Emphasizes a small difference in time.

somewhat later

Adds a degree of uncertainty to the time difference.

a bit later

More informal way of expressing a small delay.

shortly thereafter

More formal and emphasizes the immediate succession.

soon after

Highlights the proximity in time between two events.

in a little while

Suggests a brief and unspecified duration.

subsequently

More formal, indicating something that follows in time.

after a short delay

Highlights the short duration of the intervening period.

at a subsequent time

More formal and general way of indicating a later occurrence.

following that

Indicates a direct sequence of events.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly later" to indicate that something happens a short time after something else. For example, "The meeting will start at 2 pm, but I'll arrive "a little later"".

What's the difference between "slightly later" and "much later"?

"Slightly later" indicates a small difference in time, while "much later" implies a more significant time gap. If the delay is considerable, "much later" is more appropriate.

What can I say instead of "slightly later"?

You can use alternatives like "a little after", "shortly afterward", or "soon after" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "slight later" instead of "slightly later"?

No, "slight later" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "slightly later", where "slightly" is an adverb modifying the adverb "later".