slightly lower than

USAGE SUMMARY

"slightly lower than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing and contrasting one thing to another that is less than the comparison. For example, "The temperature outside was slightly lower than yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The results were slightly lower than analysts' expectations.

The New York Times

Sales were $4.22 billion, slightly lower than analyst expectations.

The New York Times

The meager rise was slightly lower than economists had expected.

The New York Times

Its energy density is slightly lower than today's lithium-ion batteries.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Note that they are slightly lower than most of the other sets.

Harvard University

In fact, 2016 saw 193 companies targeted, slightly lower than the year prior.

Harvard University

Yesterday the share price moved slightly lower than Thursday's three-year high of 681p.

The Guardian - Business

Volume of 1.49 billion shares traded was slightly lower than the 1.50 billion on Monday.

The New York Times

The ratio of 0.73 is slightly lower than EchoStar's first offer, 0.75, in August.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Express unit also experienced slightly lower-than-expected growth.

Forbes

The field measurements showed that the effective fields were slightly lower than the calculated ones, presumably from a slightly lower-than-specified remanent field on the magnets.

EPJ Techniques and Instrumentation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly lower than" to express a small degree of difference, avoiding exaggeration or understatement.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly lower than" when the difference is substantial. This can mislead readers and diminish the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly lower than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it is less than another entity, but only to a small degree. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in comparisons.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly lower than" is a versatile comparative phrase used to indicate a small difference between two values or quantities. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and acceptability in various contexts. As shown by the examples, this phrase is very common in news reporting, academic research, and scientific publications, suggesting its wide applicability across various registers. When using "slightly lower than", ensure that the magnitude of the difference is indeed small to avoid misleading your audience. Alternatives like "marginally below" or "a bit less than" can be used to achieve similar effects while diversifying your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally below

Indicates a minimal decrease, focusing on the amount under.

a bit less than

Uses simpler language to convey a small difference.

fractionally smaller than

Emphasizes the minute scale of the difference.

just under

Suggests proximity to a certain threshold.

negligibly less than

Highlights that the difference is so small it's almost insignificant.

somewhat beneath

Indicates a position that is under and less than.

a shade under

Uses idiomatic language to convey a subtle decrease.

minutely inferior to

Focuses on the slight degree of inferiority.

hardly exceeding

Focuses on how the one object barely outperforms the other.

scarcely surpassing

Focuses on how the one object barely outperforms the other.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly lower than" to compare two values or measurements. For example: "The average temperature this month was "slightly lower than" last year's."

What are some alternatives to "slightly lower than"?

Alternatives include "marginally below", "a bit less than", or "just under", depending on the context.

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

Yes, "slightly lower than" is suitable for formal writing, as it is a clear and precise way to express a small difference. The choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality. Terms such as "negligibly less than" can be used to enhance the formality.

What's the difference between "slightly lower than" and "much lower than"?

"Slightly lower than" indicates a small difference, while "much lower than" indicates a significant difference. Use the phrase that accurately reflects the magnitude of the difference you're describing.