thinly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'thinly' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as an adverb to describe an action that is done with a thin layer or coating. For example: She thinly spread the cream cheese over the bagel.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: 'I start to feel it in my knees' – working for hours while standing proves a tall order The conspiracy theorists among you are probably thinking this is just a thinly disguised attempt by the standing desk lobby.

The Guardian - Opinion

For the croutons, thinly slice the baguette on the diagonal and fry the slices in the olive oil until crisp and golden.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cookeathope, via GuardianWitness Serves 6-8 125g raw virgin solid coconut oil 3-4 tbsp honey 125g desiccated coconut 2 ripe bananas 60g cocoa powder 1 ripe mango, peeled and thinly sliced 2 ripe passionfruit, pulped 1 In a small saucepan, gently melt 50g of oil.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In a thinly veiled dig at Farage's handling of the election debates, Carswell said: "At times, Ukip has failed to strike the right tone.

The Guardian

Poor Laurence Oliver, doing his best to project thinly iced evil as Crassus, doesn't stand a chance.

The Guardian - Film

During keynote remarks to the South Carolina House Democratic Women's Caucus and the South Carolina Democratic Women's Council, Clinton made a string of thinly veiled shots at GOP presidential candidates for blocking equal pay legislation in Congress.

The Guardian

Jack Warner, the controversial Trinidadian former Concacaf president who was once one of Blatter's closest allies and among those charged on Wednesday, delivered a thinly veiled threat after being released on bail.

The Guardian - Sport

The Greek crisis led to an ugly spate of thinly veiled racism against lazy and spendthrift Mediterranean types in the media.

The Guardian - Opinion

In this context, President Vladimir Putin's destabilisation of Ukraine cannot be separated from his dream of leading a "Eurasian Union" – a thinly disguised effort to recreate the former Soviet Union.

The Guardian - Business

None of this pre-cut, thinly sliced nonsense, much less sad wafer-thin slices of plastic, reformed meat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Dreamgirls (2006) Foxx stars as sweet-talking Curtis Taylor, a thinly veiled Berry Gordy, who founds a record label and helps usher black soul singers before a mainstream white audience.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical attributes, use "thinly" to specify a small dimension or degree. For abstract concepts, consider more nuanced alternatives like "slightly" or "sparsely" for greater precision.

Common error

Avoid using "thinly" in contexts where it doesn't logically apply. Overusing it can make your writing sound awkward or imprecise. Consider alternative adverbs like "slightly" or "partially" for non-physical descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "thinly" is as an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed or a quality is exhibited. As Ludwig AI reports, it describes actions done with a thin layer or coating.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thinly" functions as an adverb, detailing how actions are performed to a limited extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability in various contexts. While "thinly" is commonly used, particularly in news and media, it's important to select alternative adverbs like "slightly" or "sparsely" for enhanced precision in abstract descriptions. Steer clear of overusing "thinly" to maintain writing clarity. This analysis consolidates grammar, usage patterns, and practical guidance, with particular highlights from news and business media examples, emphasizing the importance of context-aware precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly

Indicates a minimal degree or extent, similar to "thinly" but applicable to broader contexts.

scantily

Emphasizes a lack or insufficiency, akin to "thinly" suggesting a sparse distribution.

sparsely

Highlights a wide distribution over an area with minimal density, analogous to a "thinly" spread layer.

meagerly

Suggests a small or inadequate amount, similar to "thinly" in conveying a limited extent.

lightly

Implies a gentle or delicate application, similar to "thinly" when describing how something is applied.

finely

Focuses on the small size or division of something, akin to "thinly" describing a small dimension.

barely

Indicates something is only just achieved or present, like a "thinly" covered surface.

in a limited way

Emphasizes the restricted nature of an action or state, reflecting the restricted scope implied by "thinly".

to a small extent

Highlights the limited degree to which something happens, similar to the diminutive sense of "thinly".

not thickly

Direct antonym-based alternative, highlighting the absence of thickness where "thinly" is applicable.

FAQs

How can I use "thinly" in a sentence?

"Thinly" is typically used to describe how something is spread or sliced, as in "thinly sliced vegetables" or "thinly veiled criticism".

What words can I use instead of "thinly"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "slightly", "sparsely", or "lightly". The best choice depends on what aspect you want to emphasize.

Is it correct to say "thinly distributed"?

Yes, "thinly distributed" is correct. It suggests that something is spread out over a wide area with low density.

What is the difference between "thinly" and "finely"?

"Thinly" refers to a small dimension or thickness, while "finely" refers to a small particle size or a delicate quality. You might "thinly slice" a cucumber and "finely chop" herbs.