a minimal change

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minimal change" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small or slight alteration in a situation, process, or object. Example: "The project was successful with a minimal change to the original plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Selective control aims at changing the life/death signal of one member of a population with a minimal change of the remaining members of the population.

Plosone

However, the crystal subjected to positive electric field shows a minimal change by comparison.

Nature

This was necessary for long incubation times so that any subphase evaporation would lead to a minimal change in the surface energy.

Nature

Changes in TDI focal score were in the range of one unit when the group was stratified by a minimal change in the physician's global evaluation.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

But instead of supporting a minimal change to the law, the government is hiding behind a parliament it knows very well is hostile to the idea of giving any additional prisoners the vote.

The Guardian - Opinion

We change the RPC runtime library; the operating system kernel is unchanged, and only a minimal change was needed in the stub generator to create a new protocol identifier.

Princeton University

Only a minimal change to the normal operating conditions is required, because the Multics I/0 system provides the capability of attaching an input / output stream to a file rather than a typewriter.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The results indicate a minimal change (<5%) in the coordination number distribution of surface atoms for particles larger than 4 nm even at 500 K, implying that temperature is not sufficient to drive surface reconstruction.

Catalysis Today

A minimal change in water content dramatically changes the reactivity of the shale.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

A minimal change in the doping level has greatly influenced the electric field distribution.

Nanoscale Research Letters

A minimal change in the doping level has a small influence on the current-voltage characteristic.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing different scenarios, highlight that the transition between them only requires "a minimal change" to showcase efficiency or ease of adaptation.

Common error

Avoid using "a minimal change" when describing alterations that have significant downstream effects. Be accurate in representing the scope of the modification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minimal change" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a preposition (e.g., 'with a minimal change') or as a subject complement. Ludwig confirms this, showing it describes an action or condition that causes little or no alteration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minimal change" is a common and versatile phrase used to describe slight alterations. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and academic writing. While alternatives like "a slight modification" exist, "a minimal change" specifically emphasizes the insignificance of the alteration. To effectively use this phrase, ensure you accurately represent the impact of the change and avoid overstating its effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A slight modification

Focuses on the act of modifying something, implying a small adjustment.

A small adjustment

Emphasizes the corrective nature of the change, suggesting it's meant to improve something.

A minor alteration

Highlights that the change is of little importance or consequence.

A negligible difference

Stresses that the change is so small it's practically unnoticeable.

A subtle variation

Implies the change is delicate and might require close observation to detect.

A marginal adjustment

Suggests the change is at the very edge or limit of what's significant.

A trivial change

Indicates that the change is insignificant and not worth worrying about.

An inconsequential modification

Emphasizes that the modification has no real impact or effect.

A superficial alteration

Highlights that the change is only on the surface and doesn't affect the underlying substance.

A cosmetic change

Implies the change is made for aesthetic reasons and doesn't alter the fundamental nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "a minimal change" in a sentence?

You can use "a minimal change" to describe situations where an adjustment is small or insignificant, for example: "The new software update only required "a minimal change" to the existing system".

What are some alternatives to saying "a minimal change"?

Alternatives include "a slight modification", "a small adjustment", or "a minor alteration", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a minimal change" or "a slight change"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a minimal change" suggests the alteration is almost negligible, while "a slight change" indicates it's small but potentially noticeable.

Can "a minimal change" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "a minimal change" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, as it's a clear and straightforward way to describe a small alteration. However, for very formal contexts you might want to consider its synonyms that sounds more formal such as "an inconsequential modification" or "a negligible difference".