slightly over

USAGE SUMMARY

"slightly over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing something that is slightly more than expected, or slightly greater than an amount. For example, "The total bill came to slightly over $20."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

His sales are slightly over the threshold.

The New York Times - Tech

Monthly maintenance is slightly over $1,000.

The New York Times

If slightly over the top.

The Guardian - Music

(OK, I'm slightly over the top here).

The Guardian - Tech

"I was slightly over the top".

The Guardian - Film

This is slightly over a week.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Quite garlicky, slightly over-seasoned.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some may find the book's stated intention slightly over-ambitious.

The Economist

It has more lyrical, slightly over-the-top musical lines".

The New York Times

7. (Slightly) over-order on food.

TechCrunch

"She was a cast member who got slightly over-excited.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly over", ensure the context provides a clear reference point. For instance, "The project cost was slightly over budget" is more informative than just "The project was slightly over."

Common error

Avoid using "slightly over" without a quantifiable reference. Saying "the price was slightly over" is vague. Instead, specify the reference point, such as "the price was slightly over the estimate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly over" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the degree to which a value or quantity exceeds a specified limit. As Ludwig AI states, it is commonly used to express that something is a little more than a specific amount.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

20%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly over" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something exceeds a given amount or limit by a small degree. As Ludwig AI reports, this expression appears most frequently in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts, suggesting its broad applicability. When using "slightly over", it's essential to provide a clear reference point to avoid ambiguity, and remember that alternatives like ""a bit more than"" or ""just above"" may be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit more than

Indicates a small degree of exceeding a certain amount.

just above

Implies being marginally higher than a specific point or level.

marginally exceeding

Highlights that the amount by which something exceeds is not substantial.

a little beyond

Suggests a small extent of surpassing a specific limit.

fractionally above

Emphasizes the very small difference by which something is higher.

barely exceeding

Indicates that the margin by which something exceeds is minimal.

only just past

Suggests a minimal surpassing of a point, with emphasis on proximity.

somewhat beyond

Implies exceeding a certain point to a certain degree, but without emphasis on closeness.

upwards of

Focuses on the upward direction but implies an approximate amount.

in excess of (by a small amount)

Specifies that the amount goes beyond a limit by a small degree.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly over" to indicate that a quantity or amount is a little more than a specific value. For example, "The meeting went "a bit more than" an hour" or "The temperature was "just above" freezing last night.

What are some alternatives to using "slightly over"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like ""a bit more than"", ""just above"", "marginally exceeding", or "a little beyond".

Is it better to say "slightly over" or "a little over"?

Both "slightly over" and "a little over" are correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on personal preference and the overall tone of your writing. In most cases, they are interchangeable.

When is it inappropriate to use "slightly over"?

It might be inappropriate to use "slightly over" when you need to express a significant difference or a precise amount. In such cases, more specific language, like "substantially more than" or providing the exact quantity, would be more appropriate.