Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a minimal decrease
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"a minimal decrease" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a decrease that is small or slight. For example, "The new policy resulted in a minimal decrease in carbon emissions."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Alternative expressions(16)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
40 human-written examples
Additionally, some states saw significant reductions in carbon emissions while others experienced only a minimal decrease.
News & Media
It is unclear why some adolescents experience substantial bone mineral density (BMD) loss, while others experience a minimal decrease during depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) use.
Science
Gels prepared from copolymers with higher PNIPAM contents at higher concentrations appeared to exhibit a minimal decrease in both cell number and cell viability during a 7-day culture.
Science
The addition of IIIQ+S>1.0 mV as an abnormal finding to the International Criteria for athletic ECG interpretation improved sensitivity from 64.2% to 70.4%, with a minimal decrease in specificity.CONCLUSION: Large Q and S waves in lead III distinguished athletes from patients with HCM, independent of axis and well-known ECG markers associated with HCM.
Academia
Due to lateral flow of water, sediment and nutrients from these steep slope and gullies, further prioritising re-vegetation target areas to the zone adjacent to and down slope from these steep portions of the landscape reduces sediment entering the river network with a minimal decrease of regional stream flow.
The solution OH- concentrations are similar based on a minimal decrease in pKw of only 0.1 log units between 160 and 175°C [22].
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
20 human-written examples
A very minimal decrease in proliferation was observed at 24 h (5 8%).
Science
Our study is compared with international data in Table 4. RAPN is an effective surgical alternative in NSS in which the ultimate goal is to achieve the "trifecta" of a negative cancer margin, minimal decrease in renal function and an absence of complications.
Science
The linear dynamic range (up to 2 mM of creatinine) was same for all biosensors; however, there was a significant improvement in response time of about 60% decrease in silicalite-based biosensors and a minimal 40% decrease in regeneration time of all BEA-type of zeolite-based biosensors compared to respective values of GA-based biosensors.
Science
This 2D coding enabled a 3.5× throughput increase with minimal decrease in resolution.
Academia
Of those who entered the extension study, one patient had a minimal response (decrease of ⩾25% from baseline in M-protein concentration) and a noticeable decrease was seen in the serum M-protein concentrations in the remaining two patients during the first month of treatment and throughout the extension study.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "a minimal decrease" to downplay the significance of a reduction, especially when the overall trend is positive or stable. It's effective in scientific reports or business analyses where precision is key but the impact is small.
Common error
Avoid using "a minimal decrease" when the reduction is actually substantial. This phrase is best suited for situations where the change is genuinely small and not misleading to the reader.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a minimal decrease" functions as a noun phrase that describes a slight reduction or decline. It is often used to qualify a decrease, emphasizing its small magnitude. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both correct and usable.
Frequent in
Science
71%
News & Media
21%
Academia
8%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "a minimal decrease" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a small or slight reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across varied contexts. Its primary function is to downplay the significance of a decline. Common usage includes scientific and news reporting, where objective descriptions of data trends are necessary. When using this phrase, ensure the decrease is genuinely small to avoid misleading the reader. Alternatives include "a slight reduction" and "a small decline".
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
a slight reduction
Focuses on the reduction aspect, emphasizing it's slight.
a small decline
Replaces "decrease" with "decline", implying a gradual reduction.
a marginal drop
Uses "drop" to suggest a quick, small decrease; "marginal" emphasizes the smallness.
a negligible lessening
Highlights the insignificance of the decrease by using "negligible".
a trivial reduction
Emphasizes the unimportance of the reduction using "trivial".
a modest downturn
Uses "downturn" to imply a negative trend, though still modest.
a limited decline
Specifies the decline is not extensive.
a barely perceptible decrease
Emphasizes that the decrease is difficult to notice.
an insignificant reduction
Highlights the lack of importance of the reduction.
a fractional lessening
Implies the decrease is just a small fraction.
FAQs
How can I use "a minimal decrease" in a sentence?
Use "a minimal decrease" to describe a slight reduction. For example, "The study showed "a minimal decrease" in patient recovery time."
What are some alternatives to "a minimal decrease"?
You can use alternatives like "a slight reduction", "a small decline", or "a marginal drop" depending on the context.
When is it appropriate to use "a minimal decrease"?
It's appropriate when the reduction is small and doesn't significantly impact the overall outcome. Avoid using it if the decrease is substantial or has serious consequences.
What's the difference between "a minimal decrease" and "a significant decrease"?
"A minimal decrease" implies a small, often negligible reduction, while "a significant decrease" indicates a substantial and noteworthy reduction.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested