somewhat and slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat and slightly" is not correct and is generally redundant in written English.
You can use it when trying to express a small degree of something, but it is better to choose one of the terms to avoid redundancy. Example: "The project is somewhat behind schedule."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As specified in the SAP, the MID considered changes in scores of TRIM-Diabetes domains between responses of roughly "Slightly" and "Somewhat" as the minimally important interval.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She's turned away from the camera slightly and covering herself somewhat with Gronkowski's jersey.

Huffington Post

The eyewall collapsed somewhat, and Helene weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane, where it leveled off for about 48 hours until September 20 due to a lengthy eyewall replacement cycle and an elongated cloud pattern.

Wikipedia

Slightly over 11% disagreed somewhat and only 15.8% agreed somewhat or agreed strongly (Table 3).

BMC Public Health

Finally store your guitar in a somewhat temperate, moderately dark and slightly humid area.

WikiHow

Use your upper back to bring the weights up and slightly back in a somewhat-circular motion.

WikiHow

Then he superimposed a second square, somewhat smaller and turned slightly askew, and then a third square, and so on, until he had filled the sheet.

The New Yorker

The prevalence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome were somewhat lower, and that of hypertension slightly higher than in the United States of America.

BMC Public Health

And they sought to cast Mr. Gore and his advisers as at least somewhat irresponsible and slightly ill-tempered.

The New York Times

A somewhat awkward translation and slightly off-kilter rhymes do little to dull Chauffrey's exuberantly topsy-turvy landscapes.

The New York Times - Books

Non-lethal we can all get onboard with, but less lethal has an uncomfortable ring to it, to be filed alongside "barely fatal", "somewhat amputated" and "slightly pregnant".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose either "somewhat" or "slightly" to describe a minor degree, avoiding the redundancy of using both together. For example, instead of saying "The project is "somewhat and slightly" behind schedule", use "The project is slightly behind schedule" or "The project is somewhat behind schedule".

Common error

Avoid using both "somewhat" and "slightly" together, as it often creates an awkward and unnecessary emphasis. One modifier is usually sufficient to convey the intended degree. For example, saying "The results were "somewhat and slightly" surprising" can be simplified to "The results were somewhat surprising" or "The results were slightly surprising".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat and slightly" functions as a redundant double adverbial modifier. It attempts to describe the degree to which something is modified, but the combined effect is generally considered stylistically poor. As Ludwig AI states, it is better to choose one of the terms to avoid redundancy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat and slightly" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and stylistically redundant. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's best to choose either "somewhat" or "slightly" based on the intended degree of modification. While examples can be found across various source types including Science, News & Media and Wiki, its usage is relatively rare and should be avoided in formal writing. Alternative phrases such as "slightly", "somewhat", "to some extent" or "a bit" offer more concise and effective ways to convey similar meanings. To improve your writing, it's recommended to select one modifier instead of combining both.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly

Emphasizes a minor degree or extent, omitting the redundancy of "somewhat".

Somewhat

Highlights a partial or moderate degree, removing the less impactful "slightly".

To some extent

Indicates a certain degree or level of something, avoiding direct modification with adjectives.

To a degree

Similar to "to some extent" but more concise, focusing on the existence of a degree.

A bit

An informal way to express a small amount or degree, replacing the more formal "somewhat and slightly".

Marginally

Stresses a minimal or barely noticeable change, contrasting with the combined impact of "somewhat and slightly".

Moderately

Highlights a medium level of change, dropping the sense of extreme subtlety that could be expressed with the addition of "slightly".

A little

Another informal way of indicating a small degree of something.

Just a little

Variant that enforces the small quantity/degree idea, implies it's something diminutive.

Barely

Variant that enforces the small quantity/degree idea.

FAQs

Is it correct to use "somewhat and slightly" together?

The phrase "somewhat and slightly" is generally considered redundant. It's better to choose either "somewhat" or "slightly" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "somewhat" and "slightly"?

"Somewhat" indicates a moderate degree, while "slightly" suggests a smaller degree. The choice depends on how much you want to emphasize the degree of change or difference. Consider the alternatives "somewhat" or "slightly".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "somewhat and slightly" to make it more concise?

Choose either "somewhat" or "slightly". For example, instead of "The dish was "somewhat and slightly" spicy", you could say "The dish was slightly spicy" or "The dish was somewhat spicy".

Are there situations where using both "somewhat" and "slightly" is acceptable?

While technically not wrong, using both is often seen as redundant and stylistically weak. In most cases, one of the terms is sufficient to convey the intended meaning. Therefore consider the alternatives "somewhat" or "slightly".