will be slightly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will be slightly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small degree of change or difference in a future context. Example: "The temperature will be slightly higher tomorrow than it was today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Things will be slightly cleaner".

The New York Times

But it will be slightly shorter.

The New York Times

All tools will be slightly different.

The Guardian

The Wiesbaden version will be slightly smaller.

The New York Times - Arts

Everyone's deal-breaker will be slightly different.

Independent

Every programme and every presenter will be slightly different.

The Guardian - Books

Actually, they will be slightly underground in the assembly hall.

The New York Times

"Some people will be slightly inconvenienced," he said.

The New York Times

It will be slightly cheaper to buy at Christie's.

The New York Times

"Some people will be slightly inconvenienced," the mayor said then.

The New York Times

"Experience tells us that, probably, it will be slightly slower than was intended.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will be slightly" to indicate a small degree of change or difference when precision is not critical. It's appropriate for general statements and predictions where an exact measurement isn't necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "will be slightly" excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can diminish the impact of the phrase and make the writing sound repetitive. Mix it up with alternatives like "will be a little" or "will be somewhat" to keep the tone varied and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be slightly" functions as a qualifier, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate a small degree of change or difference expected in the future. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "will be slightly" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate a minor degree of change or difference in the future. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used and accepted in various contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal writing, although it is most prevalent in news, scientific, and general articles. For writers, it's crucial to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "will be a little" or "will be somewhat" to maintain engaging and varied content. When employing this phrase, consider the temporal aspect and the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be a little

Replaces "slightly" with "a little", maintaining a similar level of informality and impact.

will be somewhat

Substitutes "slightly" with "somewhat", offering a slightly more formal tone.

will be marginally

Replaces "slightly" with "marginally", indicating a small degree of difference, often used in technical contexts.

will be just a bit

Uses "just a bit" instead of "slightly" for a more casual and less precise indication.

will be barely

Implies the change or difference is at the lowest detectable level.

is expected to be a bit

Replaces "will be" with "is expected to be", adding a sense of anticipation or prediction and replacing "slightly" with "a bit".

is anticipated to be marginally

Replaces "will be" with "is anticipated to be", suggesting a formal expectation, and replace "slightly" with "marginally".

will change a little

Focuses on the change aspect, rather than the degree, while keeping the informality of "a little".

will differ somewhat

Emphasizes the difference instead of the degree of change, maintaining a moderate level of formality.

will have a subtle difference

Highlights the subtlety of the difference, ideal when the variation is not immediately noticeable.

FAQs

How can I use "will be slightly" in a sentence?

"Will be slightly" is used to indicate a minor degree of change or difference in the future. For example: "The new version "will be slightly" faster than the old one."

What are some alternatives to "will be slightly"?

Alternatives include "will be a little", "will be somewhat", or "will be marginally" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "will be slightly more" or "will be slightly less"?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "will be slightly" can be used with comparative adjectives to indicate a small degree of difference. For instance, "The price "will be slightly" more expensive this year."

What is the difference between "will be slightly" and "is slightly"?

"Will be slightly" refers to a future state, while "is slightly" describes a present state. For example: "The updated design "will be slightly" different" (future) versus "The color "is slightly" off" (present).