a minimal quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minimal quantity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the smallest amount of something that is still considered significant or relevant. Example: "In order to conduct the experiment, we need to ensure that we have a minimal quantity of the chemical compound."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

His mother and I have always believed that the best treatment for a sick child is to be tucked up in bed, administered a minimal quantity of drugs, if any, and left to let the body's natural recuperative powers do their work.

Independent

A good classifier model, as we expect, returns a minimal quantity of false positives and negatives.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

In other words, it uses a minimal quantity of resources to exploit available parallelism.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

However, a minimal quantity of kaolinite-like surfaces is needed to change the wettability of the bulk sample towards oil-wetness.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

By contrast, an input-oriented approach should be used, if a fixed level of output has to be reached by using a minimal quantity of inputs.

Health Economics Review

This water-processed, environmentally friendly precursor system lights a direction of clean production of PSC using a minimal quantity of harmful organic solvents.

Materials Today Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

While quality is much more important than quantity, keep in mind that there is a minimal amount of novel information that is necessary to publish a new paper.

Science Magazine

Abuse refers to active attempts by employees to cause harm (e.g. malicious behaviour), whereas neglect refers to passive omissions (e.g. laziness) by employees to ensure a "minimal quality and quantity of work" [ 51] (p.333).

BMC Health Services Research

However, a standardization of ASC isolation from minimal quantity of AT may limits patient discomfort, avoiding demanding surgical approaches.

Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

In the present study, the threshold for "binge drinkers" was set at 50 g of alcohol on at least one day a week, because this level is the minimal quantity most often used to define binge drinking in similar population studies.

British Medical Journal

As a consequence, choice of a mixture with minimal quantities of additive is certainly fundamental to guarantee a competitive commercial strategy, even maintaining improvement of the mechanical and physical properties of the final product.

Geothermal Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experimental conditions or measurements, use "a minimal quantity" to precisely convey that the amount is deliberately kept as low as possible to avoid interference or unwanted effects.

Common error

Avoid using "a minimal quantity" when you simply mean "a small amount" in a general sense. The phrase is best suited for situations where minimizing the quantity is a specific objective or requirement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minimal quantity" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a small or reduced amount. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

6%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minimal quantity" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate the smallest amount of something, often in contexts where minimizing the quantity is important. Ludwig AI analysis of real-world examples shows its prevalence in scientific and technical writing. While synonymous with "a small amount", it carries a more formal and precise tone. When writing, be mindful of the context and ensure that "a minimal quantity" accurately reflects the intention to minimize the amount being described. Related phrases include "a negligible amount" and "a minimum amount", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minimum amount

Indicates the least possible amount required or available.

a small quantity

A direct synonym, indicating a quantity that is not large.

a tiny amount

Emphasizes the small size of the amount.

a reduced quantity

Highlights that the quantity has been lessened or decreased.

a negligible amount

Emphasizes that the amount is so small it's practically unimportant.

a limited quantity

Focuses on the restriction of the quantity available.

a trace amount

Suggests an extremely small quantity, barely detectable.

a nominal amount

Highlights the insignificance of the amount in question.

a scarce quantity

Suggests that the quantity is not readily available.

a modicum

Refers to a small, often desirable or necessary amount.

FAQs

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

You can use "a minimal quantity" to describe using the smallest effective amount of something, like, "The recipe calls for "a minimal quantity" of salt to enhance the flavor".

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a small amount", "a trace amount", or "a minimum amount".

Is it more formal to say "a minimal quantity" or "a small amount"?

"A minimal quantity" often carries a slightly more formal or technical tone, particularly in scientific or technical contexts, compared to the more general phrase "a small amount".

What's the difference between "a minimal quantity" and "a maximum quantity"?

"A minimal quantity" refers to the smallest possible amount, whereas "a maximum quantity" refers to the largest possible amount. They are opposites used to define the lower and upper limits of something.