take a slight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a slight" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a minor action or adjustment, but it lacks context to be usable. Example: "You might want to take a slight detour to avoid traffic."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

But I probably take a slight, extra moment to think about it.

The New York Times

It will only take a slight little idea, a starting melody, to make my whole day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Some are becoming more willing to take a slight curve, but no hard 90 degrees".

The New York Times - Arts

And so I want to take a slight detour from tradition on this State of the Union night.

The New York Times

Take a slight right onto Lake Street, and turn left onto Park Lane, which becomes Old Orchard Street.

The New York Times - Travel

Diners enter through the bar, take a slight jog to the left and end up in a simple, spacious dining room with striking décor.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

So she took a slight detour.

The New York Times - Sports

We took a slight detour.

The Guardian

The economy seems to have taken a slight upturn in the latest two quarters.

The Economist

I hit it, it took a slight deflection, and went in".

Independent

It took a slight deflection but the referee gave a goal kick.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "take a slight", opt for clearer and more correct alternatives such as "make a small adjustment" or "introduce a subtle change" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "take a slight" in formal contexts like academic papers or business reports. The phrase sounds awkward and unidiomatic. Instead, choose precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "make a minor adjustment" or "implement a small change".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a slight" functions primarily as a verb phrase, typically intending to describe a minor action or adjustment. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, advising against its use in formal writing despite its prevalence in various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "take a slight" is frequently encountered across various sources, including news and academic texts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase is intended to convey a minor action or adjustment, but it's advisable to avoid it in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "make a small adjustment" or "introduce a subtle change". This ensures clarity and credibility in your writing, particularly in professional or academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a small adjustment

Replaces "take" with "make" and "slight" with "small adjustment" to emphasize the minor nature of the change.

make a minor alteration

Substitutes "slight" with "minor alteration" for a more formal tone, still indicating a small change.

make a small deviation

Replaces the verb with "make" and changes "slight" to "small deviation" indicating a slight departure from a course or plan.

introduce a subtle change

Emphasizes the subtlety of the change being made.

implement a slight modification

Uses more formal vocabulary to express a small change being put into effect.

effect a minor shift

Indicates a change in position or direction that is not substantial.

apply a slight correction

Specifically suggests fixing something with a small adjustment.

institute a small revision

Implies a formal or official change that is not major.

conduct a minor tweak

Suggests a fine adjustment or small improvement.

bring about a subtle difference

Focuses on the resulting difference being small and not easily noticeable.

FAQs

What are some correct alternatives to "take a slight"?

Instead of "take a slight", you can use phrases like "make a small adjustment", "make a minor alteration", or "introduce a subtle change" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical correctness.

Is "take a slight" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "take a slight" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use alternatives that clearly express a minor action or adjustment.

How can I use "make a small adjustment" in a sentence instead of "take a slight"?

Instead of saying "We need to take a slight detour", you can say "We need to make a small adjustment to our route" to avoid the grammatical issue.

What is the difference between "take a slight detour" and "make a small detour"?

While "take a slight detour" is commonly used, "make a small detour" is grammatically more appropriate. Both phrases imply a small change in direction, but "make a small detour" is the preferred option for formal writing.