small upturn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small upturn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slight increase or improvement in a particular situation, such as economic indicators or performance metrics. Example: "After several months of decline, the company finally experienced a small upturn in sales during the holiday season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The euro zone officially exited recession in the second quarter with a small upturn.

The New York Times

A small upturn in the economy would put the business 'back on the straight and narrow'.

The Guardian

A demand for change, coupled with a natural political cycle that moves priorities from policy development to delivery during the course of a parliament, is now being reflected in a small upturn in public spending on consulting services.

The Guardian

Estimated incidence of those cancers began to rise at about 30 34 years of age, reaching a peak in women aged 40s to early 50s and then fell progressively, with a small upturn in incidence of cervical cancer in women in their 80s.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Duncan Irvine, head of corporate banking at Barclays Scotland, said: "The old and new guard of Scottish heavy industry - engineering and petrochemicals - both posted small upturns, however performance across the board is disappointingly muted.

BBC

And those that survive may not all be hard up: falling beer sales have been offset by a big increase in wine drinking since the 1970s, and an advertising push in the 1990s caused a smaller upturn in the market for cider.Above all, Britons are drinking more.

The Economist

In the SAXS study, it was observed that the un-plasticized Co2+ ionomer showed a strong small angle upturn and a very broad SAXS peak, indicating that the ionomer phase was compositionally heterogeneous.

Polymer

In the case of the Co2+ ionomers plasticized with polar glycerol (Gly) that acted mainly as multiplet plasticizer, a very weak cluster glass transition, decreasing ionic modulus and only a well-developed small angle upturn were observed.

Polymer

Starting late last year, business jet operators saw "a very distinct, small, consistent upturn in demand," said Fred Reid, president of Flexjet, a company owned by Bombardier that sells fractional shares in aircraft, as well as charter flights and so-called jet cards for buying flight time in 25-hour blocks.

The New York Times

"It remains to be seen what impact the coalition government's welfare reform agenda will have on public attitudes, and whether the small recent upturn in sympathy marks the beginning of a longer term trend," she said.

BBC

However, after the first inoculation the shedding persisted at levels of approximately 105 cfu/g for 7 days (even with a small initial upturn) whereas after re-inoculation the numbers shed declined more rapidly and within 3 days reached levels of approximately 104 cfu/g.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small upturn" to temper expectations when describing a positive change that is not substantial. This helps avoid overstating the progress and maintains credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "small upturn" when the situation warrants a description of stagnation or decline. It is crucial to accurately represent the degree of improvement to prevent misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small upturn" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "upturn". It describes a slight or minor increase or improvement in a particular situation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is valid and provides examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small upturn" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing a modest positive change across various domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for formal and informal writing. While "small upturn" appears most frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts, be sure to use it accurately to avoid overstating the significance of any improvements. Consider alternatives like "slight increase" or "minor improvement" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight increase

Emphasizes the incremental nature of the rise, focusing on the action rather than the overall state.

minor improvement

Highlights the betterment aspect, suggesting a change for the better, albeit small.

modest recovery

Specifically implies a comeback from a previous downturn, but on a limited scale.

marginal gain

Stresses the thinness of the benefit, perfect to be used when the improvement is so small that it is almost insignificant.

limited growth

Focuses on the expansion aspect, indicating growth that isn't substantial.

gentle rise

Highlights a slow and gradual positive trend.

subtle upswing

Indicates a change that is not immediately obvious or easily noticeable.

tiny upsurge

Implies a brief and not very significant increase.

incremental advance

Indicates a step-by-step progression or development.

insignificant betterment

Stresses the lack of importance or impact of the positive change.

FAQs

How can I use "small upturn" in a sentence?

You can use "small upturn" to describe a slight positive change in various contexts. For example, "The economy experienced a "small upturn" in the last quarter." or "After the marketing campaign, there was a "small upturn" in sales."

What are some alternatives to "small upturn"?

Some alternatives include "slight increase", "minor improvement", or "modest recovery", depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "small upturn" in formal writing?

Yes, "small upturn" is appropriate for formal writing, as it is grammatically correct and widely used in reputable sources. However, ensure that the context aligns with the level of formality. For example, "The study indicated a "small upturn" in student performance following the intervention."

What's the difference between "small upturn" and "significant increase"?

"Small upturn" implies a modest positive change, whereas "significant increase" suggests a substantial and noteworthy rise. The choice between them depends on the magnitude of the improvement you are describing.