a minuscule amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minuscule amount of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small quantity of something, often in a formal or academic context. Example: "The experiment showed that there was a minuscule amount of contamination in the sample."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"We're talking about a minuscule amount of food," he said.

The New York Times

According to comScore, OpenStreetMap itself still has a minuscule amount of Web traffic.

The New York Times - Tech

You do lose a minuscule amount of the flesh, which clings to the pith.

The New York Times - Food

"They put out such a minuscule amount of electricity," Mr. Collins said.

The New York Times

And to add insult to injury, the duck had a minuscule amount of sauce.

The New York Times

"This method produces a minuscule amount of surplus yarn, which is turned into accessories".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Capital One, one of the nation's biggest banks, paid $3.5 million to settle the case, a minuscule amount for a company of its size.

The New York Times

Such accounts would be universal and used for after-school or traditional child care, with a government match of $500 a year — a minuscule amount given the cost of such care, and given the difficulty that lower-income families have putting away money in such accounts.

The New York Times

The agency signed off on the minerals service's biological evaluation, even though that assessment considered only the risks to wildlife based on spills of 1,000 to 15,000 barrels — a minuscule amount compared with the hundreds of thousands of barrels now spewing into the gulf.

The New York Times

"But the artificial reefs are taking up only a very minuscule amount of the sea bottom".

The New York Times

There is no hypocrisy in having a blind trust (which, by law, Romney can't direct or control) invest a relatively minuscule amount of money in any company.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minuscule amount of" when you want to emphasize the extremely small nature of the quantity, often implying it's barely noticeable or significant.

Common error

Avoid using "a minuscule amount of" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler phrases like "a tiny bit" or "a little" would sound more natural and less pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minuscule amount of" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a very small quantity of something. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where precision is important.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a minuscule amount of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote an extremely small quantity. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it is commonly found in formal and scientific contexts, emphasizing precision over colloquial alternatives. While versatile, it's best suited for scenarios where highlighting the insignificance or near absence of something is intended. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suggests alternatives such as "a tiny amount of" or "a negligible amount of" for less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny amount of

Replaces "minuscule" with "tiny", a more informal synonym.

a very small amount of

Uses simpler and more direct language.

an insignificant amount of

Focuses on the lack of importance of the quantity.

a negligible amount of

Highlights that the amount is so small it can be disregarded.

a trivial amount of

Emphasizes the unimportance of the quantity.

a trace amount of

Suggests the quantity is barely detectable.

a microscopic amount of

Implies the quantity is so small it's almost invisible.

a modicum of

Uses a less common word to indicate a small quantity, often in a positive sense.

a scintilla of

Emphasizes the extreme smallness of the quantity, often used figuratively.

a jot of

Indicates a very small, almost immeasurable amount.

FAQs

How can I use "a minuscule amount of" in a sentence?

You can use "a minuscule amount of" to describe a very small quantity of something, for example: "The research found "a minuscule amount of" contamination in the sample."

What can I say instead of "a minuscule amount of"?

You can use alternatives like "a tiny amount of", "a very small amount of", or "a negligible amount of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a minuscule amount of" or "a minimal amount of"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "A minuscule amount of" emphasizes the extremely small size, while "a minimal amount of" suggests the smallest amount necessary or acceptable.

What's the difference between "a minuscule amount of" and "a small amount of"?

"A minuscule amount of" implies an extremely small quantity, much smaller than what's suggested by "a small amount of". The former is often used when the quantity is almost negligible.