slightly severe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly severe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is somewhat harsh or strict, but not overwhelmingly so. Example: "The teacher's feedback was slightly severe, but it was meant to encourage improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

THE SPACE Narrow and functional; décoris slightly severe, and without benefit ofdrapery the restaurant gets a little loudwhen crowded.

The New York Times

New Haven [phone] lalibelarestaurant.ejmart.com GOOD THE SPACE Narrow and functional; décoris slightly severe, and without benefit ofdrapery the restaurant gets a little loudwhen crowded.

The New York Times

If there is a middle ground between this sort of fashion-as-arch-revivalism and the slightly severe (and pricey) innovations of Prada and Jil Sander, then you could see it in Milan at Burberry and Missoni and Prada's cheaper, sometimes cheekier offshoot, Miu Miu.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet this never came with the slightly severe sobriety you might expect of a massive techno festival.

Vice

Furthermore, we asked respondents for their self-rated systemic-health condition using four choices (very poor, poor, fair, or good) and current economic status also using four choices (very severe, severe, slightly severe, or normal).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In addition, concurrency bugs are considered to be slightly severer than non-concurrency bugs.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

23 or their case 10) and the homozygote (129-M/M) with no rPrPSc and a 9-year course (VII.25 or their case 4) shared the same intense PrP patches in the cerebellum while the former exhibited slightly severer spongiosis and astrocytosis [ 23, 24].

Aging

It is likely that these cases represent the extreme of a spectrum of mold allergy, the slightly less severe manifestation of which is severe asthma as described in this study and without all the serological and radiological markers characterisitic of ABPA.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Interestingly, the severity of BMD can vary considerably from almost asymptomatic to a slightly less severe DMD-like condition [ 32– 32].

BioMed Research International

My hang-ups are slightly less severe than they used to be--but it's hard to take the distortion out of the fun-house mirror.

Science Magazine

Shrubs whose best stems are a year old require slightly less severe pruning.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly severe" when you want to convey a sense of something being harsh or strict, but not to an extreme degree. It's useful for softening a negative attribute.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly severe" too frequently in formal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound understated or vague. Opt for more precise language to describe the specific degree of severity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly severe" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It softens the impact of the adjective "severe", indicating a degree of intensity that is less than fully severe. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly severe" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to temper the intensity of the adjective "severe". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in English. Its purpose is to moderate a negative quality, indicating something is harsh or strict, but not excessively so. While not very frequent, its usage spans across contexts like news, media, and scientific writing. For situations demanding greater precision, consider using alternatives such as "somewhat harsh" or "moderately strict". Remember to avoid overusing "slightly severe", particularly in formal contexts, where more specific language may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat harsh

Focuses on the unpleasant or difficult nature of something.

moderately strict

Emphasizes the adherence to rules or standards.

a bit stringent

Highlights the demanding or rigorous nature of something.

marginally critical

Indicates a level of disapproval or fault-finding.

mildly austere

Suggests a lack of ornamentation or comfort.

relatively grave

Highlights a degree of seriousness or concern.

fairly stern

Emphasizes the firmness or severity of a person's expression or manner.

reasonably grim

Suggests a bleak or depressing outlook.

somewhat exacting

Highlights the demanding nature of a task or requirement.

noticeably tough

Emphasizes the challenging or difficult aspects of a situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly severe" to describe something that is a bit harsh or strict, but not extremely so. For example: "The teacher's criticism was "slightly severe", but it helped me improve."

What are some alternatives to "slightly severe"?

Alternatives to "slightly severe" include "somewhat harsh", "moderately strict", or "a bit stringent", depending on the specific context.

Is "slightly severe" formal or informal?

"Slightly severe" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more precise language may be preferred in highly formal situations.

What's the difference between "slightly severe" and "very severe"?

"Slightly severe" indicates a mild degree of harshness or strictness, while "very severe" implies a much greater degree of intensity or impact.