slightly more often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly more often" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a frequency that is a little higher than another frequency being compared. Example: "She visits her grandmother slightly more often than her grandfather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Slightly more often they looked shifty.

The Guardian - Opinion

Christmas comes but once a year; solar eclipses, slightly more often than that.

The New York Times - Science

However, ITV has featured Labour sources slightly more often, 26.9% compared with 25.1% for the Conservatives.

The Guardian

He remembers, correctly, that Mr. Gore has visited New York, though infrequently, slightly more often than Mr. Bush has.

The New York Times

Pyoderma gangrenosum most commonly arises in middle-aged people, slightly more often in women than in men.

The New York Times

The poorest members of the group died of smoking-related causes slightly more often than the richest, and poor women died more often of cancer.

The New York Times - Health

Slightly more often than not, the volunteers said that the box with lead in its bottom was heavier than the box with feathers spread thoughout its innards.

The Guardian

As is generally the case with the later Eagleton, the book is often funny, and it is trying hard to be funny slightly more often than that.

The Guardian - Books

For the past 15 years Britons have been making fewer journeys; they now go out in cars only slightly more often than in the 1970s.

The Economist

Arthroscopic surgery was performed slightly more often in men, compared with open surgery.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

It occurs slightly more often in females than in males (1.22 1) [5].

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly more often" when you want to indicate a small difference in frequency between two events or occurrences. It's suitable for situations where precision isn't critical, and you need to convey a sense of 'a bit more' without quantifying the difference.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly more often" when the difference in frequency is substantial. Overstating the difference can mislead your audience. In such cases, use phrases like "significantly more often" or quantify the difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly more often" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree and frequency of an action or state. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples show it modifying verbs to indicate something happens 'a bit more' than something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly more often" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial modifier that conveys a marginal increase in frequency. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly employed in both scientific and news contexts to draw comparisons without necessarily providing precise quantification. While suitable for formal writing, a more precise expression might be preferable depending on the context. Alternatives such as "a bit more frequently" or "somewhat more regularly" can offer variations in tone and emphasis. When using "slightly more often", it's crucial to ensure that the difference in frequency is indeed small to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little more often

A simpler and more direct way of expressing a slight increase in frequency.

a bit more frequently

Emphasizes the increased frequency using a more casual tone.

somewhat more regularly

Suggests a slightly more consistent pattern of occurrence.

marginally more frequently

Highlights the small degree of increase in frequency.

relatively more often

Indicates a greater frequency compared to something else, but the difference isn't necessarily large.

just a bit more often

Emphasizes the small degree of increase in frequency and is very colloquial.

ever so slightly more often

Emphasizes how minuscule the increase in frequency is.

hardly ever more often

Highlights the infrequency despite the fact that it is happening "more often".

scarcely more often

It stresses the fact that event happens very rarely.

barely more often

It stresses the fact that the event only just happens more often.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly more often" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly more often" to compare the frequency of two events. For example: "She visits her mother "slightly more often" than her father."

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly more often"?

Alternatives include "a bit more frequently", "somewhat more regularly", or "marginally more frequently" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "slightly more often" in formal writing?

Yes, "slightly more often" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing. However, consider whether a more precise quantification would be more appropriate for your audience.

What is the difference between "slightly more often" and "significantly more often"?

"Slightly more often" indicates a small difference in frequency, while "significantly more often" indicates a much larger and more noticeable difference. Use the appropriate phrase to accurately reflect the magnitude of the difference.