slightly successful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly successful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that has achieved some level of success, but not to a significant degree. Example: "The project was slightly successful, as it met some of the initial goals but fell short of the overall expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Shankar, despite benefiting from the Harrison association, was anxious to dissociate Indian music from mood-enhancing drugs and psychedelia; he was only slightly successful.

The Guardian - Music

While the predominant figures involved in his discussion are political thinkers, Ross argues that since the passing of King and Malcolm, and after the slightly successful torch-bearing by Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan, the flame of black consciousness was passed on to the hip-hop generation.

Huffington Post

Four-point Likert-type response options will be used, ranging from "Slightly successful" to "Completely successful".

BMC Psychiatry

For each of the four focus areas, the observer also rated faculty members' teaching on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not successful, 2 = slightly successful, 3 = moderately successful, 4 = highly successful, 5 = extremely successful).

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Contact slightly more successful channel owners and co advertise each 'other to climb to their level, there's always someone more successful.

WikiHow

The other singers were slightly less successful in this regard.

The New York Times - Arts

The Tora Bora campaign was followed by the slightly more successful Operation Anaconda.

The New York Times

The whelk, which had been cooked in its shell, was slightly less successful.

The New Yorker

The Republican Party since its inception has been slightly more successful than the Democratic in statewide elections.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The teeth were slightly more successful, fossil shark teeth stolen from a collection at a natural history museum in Valparaiso.

The Guardian - Books

The man behind the camera for almost all of them, Paul Kelly, is another musician, formerly of the slightly less successful band East Village.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more descriptive alternatives like "marginally successful" or "moderately successful" if they more accurately reflect the degree of achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly successful" when the outcome was clearly a failure. Ensure there's some tangible positive result to justify the use of the term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly successful" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe the degree of success achieved. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly successful" is a valid and commonly used adjective phrase that describes a limited degree of success. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appears in diverse contexts such as News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context clarifies the specific criteria that define success. Alternatives like "marginally successful" or "moderately successful" may provide more descriptive nuance. While generally positive, avoid overstating the level of success, as the phrase implies a tangible, but not overwhelming, positive outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally successful

Indicates a success that is just barely achieved or noticeable.

somewhat successful

Implies a moderate degree of success, more than just a slight amount.

moderately successful

Suggests a level of success that is neither high nor low, but somewhere in the middle.

a little successful

A more informal way of expressing a small degree of success.

partially successful

Highlights that only some aspects or parts of a goal were achieved.

relatively successful

Indicates success is compared to something else, implying it might not be great on its own.

mildly successful

Suggests a gentle or subtle form of success, not very pronounced.

fairly successful

Implies a good, but not outstanding, level of success.

a bit successful

Another informal way to convey a small amount of success.

limited success

Highlights the restrictions or boundaries of the success achieved.

FAQs

What does "slightly successful" mean?

The phrase "slightly successful" means that something has achieved a small degree of success, but not to a significant extent. It suggests a limited or moderate positive outcome.

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

You can use "slightly successful" to describe projects, attempts, or endeavors that have had some positive results, but haven't fully met their goals. For example: "The marketing campaign was "slightly successful", leading to a small increase in sales."

What are some alternatives to "slightly successful"?

Alternatives to "slightly successful" include "moderately successful", "somewhat successful", "marginally successful", or "partially successful". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "slightly successful" positive or negative?

The phrase "slightly successful" is generally considered positive, but it implies that the success was limited. It's more positive than a failure, but less positive than saying something was "very successful" or "extremely successful".