somewhat smoothly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat smoothly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or process that is not entirely smooth but has a degree of smoothness. Example: "The presentation went somewhat smoothly, despite a few technical glitches."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This inquiry requires the ability to vary infection threshold somewhat smoothly.

Computational Social Networks

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And this being Albany, some lawmakers found metaphor in their after-hours gatherings, pointing to the karaoke as a symbol of a camaraderie that has kept the capital functioning somewhat more smoothly than in its coup-and-corruption-prone recent past.

The New York Times

Autocorrelation properties help to explain why they evolve somewhat more smoothly than the (Z_{t}) subseries.

SERIEs

While construction of the spacecraft in which the telescope and instruments would be housed proceeded somewhat more smoothly than the construction of the OTA, Lockheed still experienced some budget and schedule slippage, and by the summer of 1985, construction of the spacecraft was 30% over budget and three months behind schedule.

Wikipedia

Again, most access points include software wizards to guide you through this somewhat arcane process as smoothly as possible.

The New York Times - Tech

The performance on Wednesday night, at least until the somewhat shaky final scene, went as smoothly as any I've heard by this group over the years.

The New York Times - Arts

The definition of the thickness of the resistive layer is somewhat ambiguous because the profiles change smoothly with depth, and the gradient is controlled by the smoothness constraint in the inversion as well as by the data.

Earth, Planets and Space

The Netherlands achieved somewhat less but did it much more smoothly.

The Economist

Its various elements are not smoothly integrated and it is somewhat repetitious.

The New York Times - Books

In "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself," which opened on Friday, Mr. Perry has his moviemaking machine running smoothly, which is to say somewhat predictably.

The New York Times

The route is generally smoothly-flowing, but can be somewhat congested through towns during the summer from tourists and cottagers.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes, use "somewhat smoothly" to indicate that the operation or task proceeded without major obstacles, but might have experienced minor issues or inefficiencies. This provides a balanced view rather than implying flawless execution.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat smoothly" when describing events or processes that encountered significant problems or interruptions. This phrase is best suited for situations where there were minor hiccups, not substantial disruptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat smoothly" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig indicates, it's a usable phrase in English. It indicates a degree of smoothness without implying perfection.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat smoothly" is a grammatically sound and relatively common adverbial phrase used to describe actions that proceed with a degree of smoothness, though not perfectly. As Ludwig's AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. It finds usage across various contexts including news, science, and general writing, but is less frequent in highly formal or academic settings. When using the phrase, it's crucial to ensure the described process did not encounter major difficulties; instead, use it to portray a balanced perspective, acknowledging minor issues. For more formal writing, alternatives such as ""relatively smoothly"" or "reasonably smoothly" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively smoothly

Indicates a level of smoothness, comparable to "somewhat smoothly", but places greater emphasis on the degree of smoothness achieved relative to expectations or other possibilities.

fairly smoothly

This alternative suggests an adequate level of smoothness, similar to "somewhat smoothly", but is marginally more affirmative.

moderately smoothly

This emphasizes that the action is carried out with a medium level of smoothness, quantifying the smoothness to a greater degree than the query.

passably smoothly

This phrase implies the smoothness is acceptable, although perhaps not ideal, with a more negative connotation than "somewhat smoothly".

reasonably smoothly

Implies a level of smoothness that meets expectations or requirements, which positions it as slightly more positive than "somewhat smoothly".

quite smoothly

Suggests a greater degree of smoothness than "somewhat smoothly", moving it closer to fully smooth.

kind of smoothly

A more informal way of saying "somewhat smoothly", but carries a conversational tone that may not be suitable for all contexts.

with some degree of smoothness

This is a more verbose alternative, emphasizing the presence of smoothness without specifying a high degree of it.

with a touch of smoothness

This implies a minimal amount of smoothness, which is less emphatic than the original phrase.

not entirely smoothly

This alternative emphasizes the lack of complete smoothness, thus offering a more explicit contrast.

FAQs

What does "somewhat smoothly" mean?

The phrase "somewhat smoothly" indicates that something proceeded with a degree of smoothness but not perfectly. It suggests that there might have been minor issues or imperfections along the way.

How can I use "somewhat smoothly" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat smoothly" to describe a process or event that went generally well but had some minor problems. For example, "The project went "relatively smoothly", but we did encounter a few unexpected challenges."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat smoothly"?

Some alternatives include "fairly smoothly", ""relatively smoothly"", or "moderately smoothly", depending on the level of smoothness you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "somewhat smoothly" in formal writing?

While "somewhat smoothly" is grammatically correct, it might be perceived as slightly informal. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "reasonably smoothly" or "largely smoothly" to convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.