slightly profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

"slightly profitable" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something is making a small amount of profit or is only slightly profitable. Example: "The new business venture was only slightly profitable in its first year, but the owners remained optimistic for future growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

In February, Tesla said it expected to be "slightly profitable" in the first quarter of 2013.

The New York Times

For six months they had mild success with fraternities and campus clubs but were only slightly profitable.

The New York Times - Magazine

The digital media and household goods units, which account for nearly half Samsung's revenue, were only slightly profitable, he added.

The New York Times

Despite improvement, Hewlett-Packard's personal computer business was only slightly profitable in a quarter of strong growth in sales.

The New York Times

Even more important, it is likely to turn slightly profitable in the fourth quarter and be solidly profitable for all of 2001, analysts say.

The New York Times

The company added that it would be "slightly profitable" in the fourth quarter, although it would have a loss in the third quarter.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This is a modest discount from the slightly less profitable Hennes & Mauritz, which currently trades at 42 times earnings and 4.7 times sales, but a sizable premium to such U.S. retailers as Nordstrom (p/e of 17) and Gap (28).

Forbes

Process 1 having three trans-esterification reactors produces significantly lower organic waste (by 32%), requires lower heat duty (by 39%) and slightly more profitable (by 1.6%) compared to Process 2 having a single trans-esterification reactor and also a different separation sequence.

Energy Conversion and Management

In The Sims 4, as measured by the amount of money a Sim can expect to bring in per week at the top of the career ladder, journalism is one of the lowest-paid jobs you can take, only slightly more profitable than being a patron of the arts or a mixologist.

Vice

Peter Thorne, a banking analyst at Pictet & Compagnie in Geneva, said in a note to investors that while investment banking and securities were the star performer, retail banking was in line with Pictet's forecasts while private banking and global asset management had been slightly disappointing, although profitable in 2003.

The New York Times

Celgene said the acquisition of Pharmion, which is not yet profitable, would slightly reduce its earnings per share in 2008.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly profitable" to describe situations where a business or venture is making a small amount of money but not a significant profit. It suggests a fragile or early stage of financial success.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly profitable" when the business is actually generating substantial revenue or profit. This can mislead stakeholders about the true financial health of the company.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly profitable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a modest level of financial gain. It qualifies the degree to which something is making money, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly profitable" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a situation where something is making a small amount of profit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in contexts such as news reporting, business discussions, and even scientific analyses when assessing project viability. While it indicates a positive financial outcome, it also suggests that the success is modest and potentially fragile. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "marginally profitable" or "modestly profitable" to fine-tune the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally profitable

Implies profitability, but to a very small degree, similar to "slightly profitable".

barely profitable

Emphasizes that the profitability is at the lowest possible level.

modestly profitable

Indicates a limited but noticeable degree of profitability.

making a small profit

Describes the act of generating a profit, but only in a small amount.

somewhat profitable

Suggests a level of profitability that is above minimal but not substantial.

scarcely profitable

Highlights how little profitable it is.

minimally profitable

Highlights the small scale of the profit earned.

hardly profitable

Highlights how little profitable it is.

break-even

Implies being at the point where costs equal revenue, with minimal profit.

near profitability

Indicates not yet profitable, but very close to reaching that state.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly profitable" to describe a business, project, or investment that is generating a small amount of profit. For example: "The new startup was "slightly profitable" in its first quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly profitable"?

Alternatives include "marginally profitable", "barely profitable", or "modestly profitable", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "slightly profitable" or "somewhat profitable"?

The choice between "slightly profitable" and "somewhat profitable" depends on the degree of profitability. "Slightly" indicates a smaller profit margin than "somewhat."

Can I use "slightly profitable" to describe a non-profit organization?

While non-profit organizations typically aim to cover costs rather than generate profit, you could use "slightly profitable" in the context of a specific revenue-generating activity or project within the organization.