Meaning & use
just slightly
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
by a very small amount; almost not at all
Grammar: Usually placed before an adjective, adverb, or verb: just slightly different, just slightly moved.
Patterns
- just slightly different
- just slightly more/less
- just slightly ahead/behind
- just slightly too much
The two colors are just slightly different; most people can't tell them apart.
The train was just slightly late, so we didn't miss our connection.
Could you turn the heat down just slightly? It's a bit too warm in here.
Common combinations
- just slightly different
- The twins look just slightly different from each other.
- just slightly more
- This one is just slightly more expensive than that one.
- just slightly ahead
- Our team is just slightly ahead in the race.
- just slightly too
- The soup is just slightly too salty for me.
Synonyms and how they differ
- a little
- More general and can stand alone; 'just slightly' stresses that the amount is extremely small.
- marginally
- More formal and often used in writing about statistics or differences.
Opposites
Word family
- slight adjective
- Small in degree; not serious or important.
- slightly adverb
- A little; to a small degree.
Commonly confused: just slightly or slight vs. slightly?
just slightly vs slight vs. slightly
Slight is an adjective (a slight change); slightly is an adverb (slightly changed). 'Just slightly' uses the adverb.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'just slightly' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Just slightly' modifies the adjective 'cold'. The other options use the wrong part of speech or an impossible structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “just slightly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.