slightly lesser

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly lesser" is not considered correct in standard English usage.
The term "lesser" is typically used in comparative contexts, but "slightly" does not fit well with it. Example: "The new model is slightly lesser in quality than the previous version."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Bryant, naturally, assigned the Nets' backcourt a slightly lesser ranking.

The New York Times - Sports

A slightly lesser factor is that of price.

The New York Times

His record is dire, contrasting strangely with some wonderful achievements at a slightly lesser level.

The Guardian - Sport

Men went for Trump to a slightly lesser degree, 51-35.

The Guardian

For an inexpert walker, gravel is only a slightly lesser version of quicksand.

The Guardian

He's obsessed with Marianne Moore and Elizabeth Bishop and, to a slightly lesser extent, Auden.

The New Yorker

In reality, the same effect did happen everywhere, to a slightly lesser extent.

Independent

Apparently Nothin' remains their most well known hit, but this version is a slightly lesser known B-side mix.

The Guardian - Music

The hurricane center predicted 5 to 20 inches of rain for Jamaica, and slightly lesser amounts for the Cayman Islands.

The New York Times

Moving on to the slightly lesser known, and certainly less commercially successful, adaptation of Veronica Roth's Divergent.

The Guardian

"It belongs to a conference which we assign a slightly lesser weight," Connelly said of the Western Athletic Conference.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "slightly lesser" is commonly used, consider using alternatives like "slightly smaller" or "somewhat lower" for improved grammatical clarity. Ensure your audience understands the intended meaning regardless of the phrase used.

Common error

Many writers assume "slightly lesser" is correct due to its frequent appearance in published works. However, this phrase is often flagged as grammatically questionable, it's safer to opt for clearer alternatives such as "slightly smaller" or "a bit less".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly lesser" functions as a modifier, specifically acting as an adverb-adjective combination. It aims to express a comparison indicating that something is of a smaller degree or extent. Ludwig AI points out the grammatical debate surrounding this phrase, even while it shows common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly lesser" is frequently used across various contexts, as Ludwig's examples show. However, it is often considered grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI also indicates that the phrase is not considered correct in standard English. While it appears often in news, scientific and encyclopedic content, it's important to consider grammatically sound alternatives like "slightly smaller" or "somewhat lower" to ensure clarity and correctness. When in doubt, especially in formal writing, opting for these alternatives is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly reduced

Simply replaces "lesser" with "reduced", maintaining a similar meaning.

marginally smaller

Replaces "lesser" with "smaller", emphasizing a difference in size.

somewhat reduced

Uses "reduced" instead of "lesser", highlighting a decrease in quantity or intensity.

somewhat lower

Substitutes "lesser" with "lower", indicating a decrease in value or level.

a bit smaller

More informal, replacing "slightly" with "a bit" and "lesser" with "smaller".

fractionally less

Emphasizes a very small difference by using "fractionally".

minimally inferior

Replaces "lesser" with "inferior", specifying a slight difference in quality.

barely diminished

Uses "diminished" to mean reduced, highlighting a minimal reduction.

a shade below

A more figurative expression indicating a small difference in rank or quality.

just a notch under

An idiomatic expression suggesting a minor difference in level or status.

FAQs

Is "slightly lesser" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "slightly lesser" is often considered grammatically questionable. Alternatives like "slightly smaller" or "somewhat lower" might be more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to using "slightly lesser" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "slightly smaller", "a bit less", or "marginally smaller".

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

You can use "slightly lesser" to indicate that something is a bit smaller or lower than something else. For example: "The new version has a slightly lesser battery life."

What's the difference between "slightly lesser" and "slightly less"?

"Slightly lesser" is used to compare a degree or quality, while "slightly less" is used for quantities or amounts. For example, "slightly lesser impact" vs. "slightly less money."