slightly satisfactory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly satisfactory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that meets expectations to a small degree but is not fully satisfactory. Example: "The results of the survey were slightly satisfactory, indicating some improvement but still room for growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Regarding water content, empirically-estimated hydraulic properties were slightly satisfactory compared to inverse-solution obtained parameters.

Geoderma

The simulations were demonstrated in a clear and detailed manner according to 83% of the students, who scored it 4 out of 5. Overall, 48% of the participants stated that the amount of time allotted to practice was not fully satisfactory: 35% stated that it was somewhat satisfactory, 14% that it was slightly satisfactory and 3% that it was not at all satisfactory.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A slightly less satisfactory alternative was the setting up of plants to assemble imported parts or semifinished materials into consumer goods that were immediately exported, thus taking advantage of Latin America's low labour costs, particularly for women workers.

Britannica

A second solution — only slightly more satisfactory — would be to make bike shares free for transit users.

Los Angeles Times

As indices we also tried a Chi value as well as the Z value that one can obtain from the p-value of each motif if one assumes that the p-value comes from a Z random variable that is N 0,1) normally distributed; but these alternative indices delivered slightly less satisfactory results.

Plosone

The same relationship was obtained for the maximum half-lives (Max T1/2), but the results were slightly less satisfactory than for mean half-lives (mean T1/2; r = 0.826; Table S9; Gramatica et al., 2001).

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology

For K and Mg, it was clear that K was predicted accurately while the prediction of Mg was not satisfactory, slightly better results (the differences in R2cv were 0.02 and 0.05, respectively) were achieved with PLSR against the presented method.

Geoderma

For small overlapping factor, e.g., K=1.07≈1 (see in Fig. 15 c, d), the spectral containment in frequency domain becomes slightly worse; however, a satisfactory PSD can still be achieved, resulting in still a small number of guard subcarriers for spectral coexistence.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Fine sands, slightly silty, would be satisfactory.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Split-half reliability was slightly lower but still satisfactory psychometrically (>.70) [ 47].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

They are still satisfactory, yet slightly lower for "Readiness for Self Disclosure" (r =.89, α =.89, mean rcorrected ITC =.61).

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly satisfactory", consider the context. If more precise language is needed to convey the degree of satisfaction, opt for alternatives like "somewhat acceptable" or "marginally adequate".

Common error

Avoid using "slightly satisfactory" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of approval or excellence. Overusing it can make your assessment sound dismissive or unenthusiastic when a more positive tone is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly satisfactory" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to indicate a level of fulfillment or acceptance that is somewhat, but not fully, meeting expectations. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing examples from various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly satisfactory" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a qualified assessment, indicating that something meets a basic level of requirement but is not exceptional. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a compound adjective and serves to convey a nuanced evaluation across different registers, although its occurrence is relatively rare. While it's more commonly found in scientific and news contexts, it's crucial to consider the context carefully and potentially opt for alternatives like "somewhat acceptable" or "marginally adequate" for better precision. Ultimately, avoid overstating satisfaction by using "slightly satisfactory" when a stronger expression of approval is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat acceptable

Indicates a degree of acceptance that is less than ideal but still adequate.

marginally adequate

Suggests the minimum level of acceptability or sufficiency.

passably good

Implies a level of goodness that is just sufficient to pass or be acceptable.

barely sufficient

Highlights that something only just meets the requirements.

moderately pleasing

Expresses a sense of satisfaction that is neither strong nor weak.

partially fulfilling

Indicates that only some aspects are meeting expectations.

reasonably adequate

Suggests an acceptable level of adequacy without being exceptional.

somewhat fulfilling

Similar to partially fulfilling, but emphasizes satisfaction.

tolerably adequate

Suggests adequacy that is barely acceptable.

adequately acceptable

Combines both adequacy and acceptability to express a limited sense of satisfaction.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly satisfactory" to describe something that meets the minimum requirements but isn't exceptional. For example, "The initial results were "slightly satisfactory", but further improvements are needed."

What are some alternatives to "slightly satisfactory"?

Some alternatives to "slightly satisfactory" include "somewhat acceptable", "marginally adequate", or "passably good". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "slightly satisfactory" the same as "satisfactory"?

No, "slightly satisfactory" implies a lower degree of satisfaction than simply "satisfactory". It indicates that something is just barely meeting expectations.

When should I avoid using "slightly satisfactory"?

Avoid using "slightly satisfactory" when you want to express strong approval or enthusiasm. In such cases, opt for more positive terms like "excellent", "outstanding", or "exceptional".