thinly related

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thinly related" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a connection or relationship that is weak or not very significant between two subjects or ideas. Example: "The two articles are thinly related, as they both touch on the topic of climate change but focus on different aspects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The government plans to spend well over $1 billion on the span, which is to be one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, and at least $6 billion on related projects in this thinly populated region, near China and North Korea.

The New York Times

In thinly populated areas, such as the Western Desert, chains of closely related dialects were spread over a wide area; in the more densely populated coastal and subcoastal areas, language boundaries were generally sharp, but multilingualism was common.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thinly-related fact: Tony Hayward of BP was born in Slough, the site of the UK version of The Office.

The Guardian

Related:  .

Vice

Sign up foRelatedest of VICE, deliveRelatedyouRelated daily.

Vice

Related: Related.

Vice

In the verse satire Absalom and Achitophel (1681), for example, John Dryden relates in heroic couplets a scriptural story that is a thinly veiled portrait of the politicians involved in an attempt to alter the succession to the English throne.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though that classic line was about street activity as it relates to bravery, the same can be said in the current political environment of quasi-fascism and thinly-veiled white supremacists occupying the Oval Office.   .

Huffington Post

Kryuchkov smiled thinly.

The New Yorker

Patterson smiled thinly.

The New Yorker

Your mother laughs thinly.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "loosely connected" or "marginally relevant" if "thinly related" feels too vague for your intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "thinly related" when there's no discernible relationship at all. Misusing the phrase can weaken your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinly related" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates the degree of connection or relevance between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a weak or not very significant relationship.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thinly related" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe a weak or tenuous connection between two subjects. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase is appropriate in various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and general writing, though its appearance is uncommon. When employing this phrase, ensure that the connection between subjects is clearly stated and not overstated. If stronger emphasis is needed, consider alternatives like "loosely connected" or "marginally relevant". The key to using "thinly related" effectively lies in accurately representing the degree of connection and avoiding ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loosely connected

Emphasizes the lack of a strong connection.

marginally relevant

Highlights the limited importance or pertinence.

tenuously linked

Suggests a fragile or easily broken association.

remotely associated

Indicates a distant or indirect relationship.

vaguely connected

Implies an unclear or ill-defined link.

tangentially related

Indicates a slight deviation from the main point.

weakly correlated

Highlights a poor statistical relationship.

indirectly connected

Focuses on the lack of a direct relationship.

superficially related

Implies a connection that is only skin-deep.

nominally associated

Highlights that association is only by name and not in substance

FAQs

How can I use "thinly related" in a sentence?

You can use "thinly related" to describe a connection between two subjects that is weak or not very significant. For example: "The two articles are "thinly related", as they both touch on the topic of climate change but focus on different aspects."

What are some alternatives to "thinly related"?

Alternatives include "loosely connected", "marginally relevant", or "tenuously linked", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "thinly related" or "closely related" when describing a weak connection?

"Thinly related" implies a weak connection, whereas "closely related" implies a strong connection. Using "thinly related" is appropriate when the connection is weak.

In what contexts is "thinly related" most appropriate?

"Thinly related" can be used in various contexts, such as academic writing, news reporting, and general conversation, to describe a relationship that is not strong or direct. However, it should not be used to describe topics that have absolutely nothing in common, in this case alternatives like "not related", "unrelated" or "irrelevant" can be more suitable.