slightly passing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly passing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is just barely meeting a standard or threshold, often in a context where a small degree of success or acceptance is implied. Example: "The exam results showed that she was slightly passing, just enough to move on to the next level."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It increases over the time period, but only very slightly, passing from 2.88 to 3.23, even though the size of network increases tremendously.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

As small pockets of dry air became entrained in the eyewall, Fabian weakened slightly, passing just 14 miles (23 km) west of Bermuda on September 5 as a 120 mph (180 km/h) Category 3 hurricane.

Wikipedia

This could explain biphasic kinetics slightly passing through a maximum around age of 50 years, where the difference between S-S and S-P groups becomes significant.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

State, and you only slightly pass Tech's total against Middle Tennessee State.

The New York Times

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) recently released their report on 2011 Year End Shipment Data, in which states that "total [music] shipments of $7.0 billion were up 0.2percentt when compared with 2010" and that digital formats slightly passed 50percentt of total music shipments in the United States, beating out physical (CDs, vinyl) shipments.

Huffington Post

If they are almost a neon red they are slightly passed their best so don't pick them.

WikiHow

When you reach the outer corner of your lid, fan the line out slightly passed where it ends.

WikiHow

Ms. Max mostly drove fine, but was startled slightly when passing a construction site and then again when two cars momentarily boxed her in.

The New York Times

The first six miles of the 26.2-mile course head slightly downhill, passing the tomb of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Marathon.

The New York Times - Sports

The bill was amended slightly before passing: if a candidate doesn't have the long-form certificate, supporting evidence like baptismal or circumcision records or notarized affidavits from witnesses could also suffice.

The New York Times

As soon as Chuck Knoblauch motored around first base and then ducked his left shoulder slightly while passing Todd Zeile, Lee Mazzilli moved out of the coach's box and started pointing and screaming.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly passing", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard or threshold is being met. For example, "The student was slightly passing the test" is more informative if followed by the minimum passing grade or the student's score.

Common error

Avoid overstating the achievement. "Slightly passing" indicates a minimal margin, so using it in a context where a significant success is implied would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly passing" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier describing the action of "passing". It indicates the extent or degree to which something is passing a certain threshold or point. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly passing" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something is just barely meeting a standard or requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. Although not frequently used, it appears in news, science, and wiki sources. For alternative expressions, consider "barely passing" or "marginally passing". Be mindful of the degree of success implied to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely passing

Indicates the lowest acceptable level of success, implying a minimal margin.

marginally passing

Suggests an outcome that is just above the minimum threshold.

just passing

Emphasizes that the passing is achieved by the narrowest extent.

nominally passing

Highlights that the passing is only in name or appearance, not substantial.

scarcely passing

Conveys a sense of difficulty or doubt associated with the passing.

faintly passing

Implies a weak or indistinct passing.

mildly passing

Similar to 'slightly' but with a different nuance in emphasis.

easily passing

Describes something that passes with facility and lack of difficulty.

nearly passing

It describes a situation where the passing did not occur, or will soon occur.

inconspicuously passing

It suggest that something happens in a way that doesn't call attention or is not easily noticeable.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly passing" to indicate that something has just barely met a requirement or standard. For example, "The bill was "slightly passing" in the polls".

What can I say instead of "slightly passing"?

You can use alternatives like "barely passing", "marginally passing", or "just passing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "slightly passing" or "passed slightly"?

"Slightly passing" is generally used when describing a process or state. "Passed slightly" is grammatically correct, but less common and might be used in different contexts.

What's the difference between "slightly passing" and "passing lightly"?

"Slightly passing" means just barely meeting a standard. "Passing lightly" suggests moving or transitioning gently or without much impact. The phrases have distinct meanings.