tweak

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "tweak" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean to make a small adjustment to something, usually in order to improve it. For example, "I need to tweak my essay a bit before I turn it in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dr Keasling and his colleagues scour the world for suitable enzymes, tweak them to make them work better, then sew the genes for the tweaked enzymes into a bacterium that thus turns out the desired product.

The Economist

This tweak to the script, he said, halved the number of don't knows and allowed Labour to acquire an early glimpse of the true grisly picture confronting it.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Germans and others say … we'd like to keep Britain in the EU, if we can do a little tweak here, a little tweak there we will help.

The Guardian

A little tweak here, a little tweak there is not – as far as I can make out – not what large parts of the Conservative party want".

The Guardian

Her other unique tweak to the conventional tour experience was to make loud animal noises during lulls in the conversation.

The Guardian - Travel

As soon as one is banned, chemists simply tweak the recipe and sell a slightly different product.

The Guardian - Opinion

This final tweak pulls the Conservatives up to draw level with Labour, and comes close to pushing the Tories into the lead.

The Guardian

In a speech to the Centre for European Reform on Wednesday, in which he declared that pro-Europeans were best placed to modernise the EU, the deputy prime minister said Cameron would only achieve a "little tweak here, a little tweak there".

The Guardian

"Breakthrough", "new hope", "disease could be prevented by immune system tweak".

The Guardian - Opinion

What initially appears a smallish tweak could end up having an unforeseen impact.

The Guardian - Sport

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.36am BST11 36 10th over: Australia 67-2 (Perry 8, Lanning 31) Grundy returns and starts to tweak the pressure up a touch with a series of dot balls, five in all.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity and precision, specify what you are tweaking and the intended outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "tweak" when describing substantial or fundamental changes. Reserve it for minor adjustments, as overusing the word for major modifications can diminish the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The word "tweak" functions primarily as a verb or a noun, indicating a slight adjustment or modification. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts ranging from adjusting algorithms to refining designs, affirming its role in describing fine-tuning processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tweak" is a versatile term used to describe making small adjustments, primarily functioning as a verb or noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, with a neutral to informal register. To avoid misuse, remember that "tweak" should only be used for minor adjustments, not significant overhauls. Consider alternatives like "fine tune" or "adjust slightly" for more formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fine-tune

Implies a more delicate or precise adjustment.

adjust slightly

A more formal and general way of saying "tweak".

modify subtly

Emphasizes the small and understated nature of the change.

make minor adjustments

More verbose but clarifies the scale of the alterations.

refine

Suggests improving something by making small changes.

calibrate

Implies adjusting something to a specific standard or setting.

fine-adjust

A less common, but acceptable, alternative to fine-tune.

alter slightly

Similar to "adjust slightly" but with a slightly different connotation.

make small changes

A straightforward and easily understood alternative.

adapt slightly

Implies modifying something to better suit a new condition or purpose.

FAQs

How to use "tweak" in a sentence?

"Tweak" can be used as a verb to mean adjust slightly or as a noun to mean a small adjustment. For example, "I need to "tweak" the settings" or "This design needs a slight "tweak"".

What can I say instead of "tweak"?

You can use alternatives like "fine tune", "adjust slightly", or "modify subtly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tweak" or "tweek"?

"Tweak" is the correct spelling when referring to making a small adjustment. "Tweek" is a misspelling and should be avoided.

What's the difference between "tweak" and "modify"?

"Tweak" implies a small, often subtle adjustment, while "modify" suggests a more significant change. You might "tweak" the color settings on a display, but you would "modify" the engine of a car.